NSW Minister for Corrections, David Elliott is in Cessnock today to commission a new 400-bed Rapid Build Prison.
It follows a record construction time of 54 weeks.
The new prison will feature over 600 CCTV cameras and three perimeter fences, catering to both minimum and maximum security offenders.
Officers will have access to thermal imaging cameras to prevent contraband entering the prison, while an Immediate Action Team will work 24/7 to respond to potential incidents.
Over 1400 new corrections officers have been employed statewide as part of the government's $3.8 billion prison infrastructure program, with construction carried out by Sydney company Lend Lease.
According to Central Coast and Hunter MLC, Taylor Martin, 220 staff will be employed at the Hunter Correctional Centre.
Corrective Services Commissioner, Peter Severin said a heavy emphasis will be placed on prisoner rehabilitation at the new facility.
"This place will have a very structured day, meaning half the inmates will work in industries in the morning, the other half will work in industries in the afternoon and at the alternate time they'll be in classrooms," Mr Severin said, "so they'll learn work skills as well as literacy, numeracy plus therapeutic rehabilitation programs."
However it's not all good news according to Shadow Corrections Minister Guy Zangari, who says the rapid nature of the build exposes design flaws which pose a security risk.
"This pop-up prison is a recipe for disaster," he said, "The government...needs to ensure the welfare of the prison officers who are going to be looking after maximum-security inmates."
The Shadow Minister also believes the gaol will be too densely populated to ensure officer safety.
"In a normal prison setup, you'd have one or two inmates per cell. In this situation you're going to have 26 high-risk offenders in a dormitory," Mr Zangari said, "We know it's a pressure-cooker environment, things can escalate quickly."
It comes as the number of inmates housed in NSW prisons hits its highest number in history, at 13, 272 offenders.
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| Clayton Barr MP, Corrections Minister David Elliot and Taylor Martin MLC at the new Hunter Correctional Centre. |
