The New Risdon Kitchen Project
Project overview
The Tasmanian Government has committed funding for the construction of a new modern kitchen, including a new bakery, at the Risdon Prison site. The new kitchen will replace the existing kitchen within the Ron Barwick Prison (RBP), which was built more than 60 years ago.
Stable employment opportunities, such as employment in the kitchen, deliver greater benefits to prisoners who are transitioning out of custody having completed relevant intervention programs, and contributes to their preparation for reintegration.
A contemporary and modern new kitchen creates a safe environment to practise learned skills and provides prisoners with recent employment experience and trade training prior to work release opportunities and transitioning back into the community. The facility will provide opportunities for up to 70 minimum-security male prisoners (up to 50 full time equivalent positions).
The new kitchen will optimise food preparation at the prison enabling the provision of nutritious meals for a larger number of inmates.
The facility has been designed with flexibility and a strategic approach in mind, enabling secure access to the multipurpose space/training area for the use by other prisoner cohorts if the Tasmania Prison Services wish to expand the current operating model to include this.
The Department of Justice’s Project Team worked closely with specialist consultants and key stakeholders from the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) to finalise a design for the new kitchen with a focus on optimising operational flow, with dedicated training spaces enabling vocational training opportunities for prisoners, reducing the risks of manual handling through providing modern and contemporary kitchen equipment and ensuring the ability for increased meal preparation and capacity.
Project update May 2025
The new Risdon Kitchen construction site has been a hive of activity, with over 20,000 work hours contributed since construction commenced in September 2024.
Most of the work in the initial months focused on the bulk excavation works and installing the inground services needed for the new kitchen. During February, the concrete slab was poured and assembly of the precast panels that form the walls of the building were installed at the site.
During March and April there has been further visible progress achieved onsite notably, the completion of structural steel installation, including the roof of the new kitchen. The internal fit out works have also commenced.
Pleasingly, the build is on schedule and it is expected that the structural building envelope will be largely finished by the end of July 2025.
It is anticipated that the construction of the new kitchen will be completed by the end of 2025 and operational shortly after this time.