First came secret negotiations, then a site was chosen on the edge of a historic town. The townsfolk were enraged and the site was moved. More were enraged so it was moved again. Now a plan for a prison has officially been buried.
The Tasmanian government has cancelled its plans for a 270-bed prison in the state's north, instead opting to improve video call capacity for Risdon Prison inmates.
The government proposed the northern prison as a way of housing prisoners from the state's north and north-west closer to their families, rather than having to travel at least two-and-a-half hours to Risdon Prison."The government will also invest in advanced in-cell technology, including the introduction of video calling capabilities," she said.
In September 2019 an ABC TV news report revealed the prison would be in Meander Valley and then a site on the edge of Westbury was announced.Ms Archer faced heated questioning at a community meeting, then another community meeting solidified the local opposition. Residents of a heritage town in northern Tasmania accuse the Government of not consulting them over plans for a new prison nearby, and demand to know the location of other potential sites.
"'What don't they get?' was the response from one of our hard working members, which sums up our view," she said.
Westbury Prison Peter Gutwein Northern Prison Meander Valley
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Harming or threatening pets would be a family violence offence under Tasmanian independent MPs pushTasmanian independent MP David O'Byrne is pushing for a change to state laws to make harming or threatening a pet, with the intent to coerce, intimidate or control a spouse or partner, a form of family violence.
Read more »
'Inhumane' dry cell use in Tasmanian jails called out in prison inspector's reportThe practice of intentionally leaving people in custody in a cell that is fully lit for up to 72 hours, without an intercom to contact someone in an emergency and without clean clothes is 'inhumane', a report into Tasmania's prisons finds.
Read more »
Dog owners consider legal action after Tasmanian Labradoodles shut down following overbreeding allegationsOwners of dogs bought from breeder Tasmanian Labradoodles have spoken out about significant problems and large vet bills, after the breeder reached an out-of-court agreement with the RSPCA to shut down immediately.
Read more »
From Tasmanian cliffs to pig-nosed turtles: $100,000 Hadley’s Art prizeHadley’s Art prize is an annual acquisitive prize for Australian landscape art that is believed to be the richest in the world. Selected from 35 finalists, Zoe Grey has won for The Shape of Rock
Read more »
Rescued dogs learning what life is like outside Tasmanian Labradoodles breeding facilityFor Noodle, life up until very recently has been inside a labradoodle breeding farm. Since that was shut down, he is learning what human kindness looks like — and his new owner says he seems to like it very much, if his waggly tail is any indicator.
Read more »
A new home for Noodle, one of 250 labradoodles rescued from a Tasmanian puppy farmApplications from across Australia to take the dogs – found with matted coats in muddy, overcrowded pens – overwhelm the RSPCA
Read more »