Updated: Residents Concerns About Cessnock Gaol Expansion Still Not Addressed

BY IAN CROUCH

Corrections Minister, David Elliott has responded to concerns raised in the media about access to the Cessnock Correctional Centre as part of the prison's expansion.

In a statement, the minister said that while existing access arrangements are adequate, a traffic management plan is being prepared to take into account the prison's expansion and he won't rule out changes once the plan is completed.

"Corrective Services NSW continues to consult with Cessnock City Council to examine all options for future access to the site. A number of proposed alternatives are being considered. We take community concerns very seriously and would like to reassure local residents and businesses that their concerns are being considered," he said.

NSW Corrections Minister David Elliott

Construction is about to begin on the 330 bed expansion of Cessnock Gaol, but residents concerns about the project still haven't been addressed.

Corrections Minister, David Elliott turned the first sod on the facility yesterday, which will make Cessnock one of the largest gaols in the state.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent says the creation of 70 new jobs is welcome, but residents will still be left with the visual impact and the cost of maintaining a council road into the state-run facility.

"It would be nice if we could sort out the screening issues to the residents who live close by and to sort out the access on state roads and not the ratepayers paying for the maintenance of the roads into a state facility," he said.

Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent

Teachers Losing Out in Cessnock Jail Expansion Plans

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Multiple teachers are set to lose their jobs in the controversial 1,000 bed expansion of Cessnock jail.

These proposed changes to the numbers of teachers employed at the jail have raised serious concerns, as the proposed teaching staff will be untrained and not fully qualified.

The government has made plans to cut the 9.5 full time teaching positions back to 2 positions as part of an employment outsourcing scheme.

Phillip Chadwick from the NSW Teachers Federation says these changes will have serious long term effects, as inmates won't learn skills necessary to reintegrate into society.

"One third of the people who might find themselves in prison have very poor language, literacy and numeracy skills, and it is vital that they have the right people in front of them giving them those skills so that when they do leave prison they can reintegrate and make their way back into society," says Chadwick.

"One of the key things that the education systems currently do is they interrupt that cycle of long term generational crime, and so it is vital to have highly trained teachers in place to break that chain."

"Under the new system, the people doing the education in our prisons won't have a proper teaching qualification, it will be a Certificate Four qualification and this is a real disaster for rehabilitation in our correctives services."

An immediate action training drill at Cessnock Jail
Source: The Newcastle Herald

More Community Consultation Over Cessnock Gaol Expansion

BY IAN CROUCH

 Community concern over the proposed expansion of Cessnock Gaol has prompted the government to give residents more time to look at the plans and express their views.

Many residents are worried about the impact it will have on social services as families of inmates move to the area.

The government wants to more than double the number of inmates at the prison to 1800, with at least 720 to be housed in maximum security.