Current Work
Risdon Prison Kitchen
Funding of $15 million has been provided to replace the kitchen at the Ron Barwick Prison, which was built more than 60 years ago. The new kitchen will have capacity to cater for the entire prison population and will employ 30-40 minimum classification rated inmates.
The project is in the early design phase and the Department of Justice is working closely with consultants and key stakeholders from the Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) to finalise the design. The new facility will include training spaces to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates. It is anticipated construction will commence in early 2024.
New Maximum Security Classification Offender Unit
In December 2021, the Premier announced that a program of work would be undertaken to deliver a new maximum classification rated unit within the Risdon Prison Complex (RPC). Funding of $50 million over four years for the new unit was announced in the 2023-24 State Budget. The program of work will be disaggregated into two projects, comprising the construction of the new accommodation unit (including additional activity, training and education spaces) and the upgrade and replacement of the Risdon Prison Complex electronic security system.
Mobile Duress Upgrade and Replacement – Risdon Prison Complex and Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison
Funding of $3.6 million was announced in the 2022-23 State Budget for the replacement of the Mobile Duress Alarm System (MDAS) at the Risdon Prison Complex and the MDAS and Security Management System at Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison.
A due diligence process has been undertaken to identify an appropriate replacement. The Strategic Infrastructure Projects unit is now working closely with key TPS stakeholders and consultants on a proof of concept. The recommended replacement system will also have the added benefit of providing a replacement for the current UHF radio network across the Risdon Prison site.
Risdon Prison – Critical Infrastructure Maintenance Upgrades
In the 2020-21 State Budget, the Department was allocated $9.03 million over 4 years (commencing in 2021-22) for critical infrastructure upgrades and the replacement of equipment at facilities on the Risdon Prison site. The initial allocation was used to address critical services issues within the RPC. Further upgrades were carried out by Fairbrother Pty Ltd in 2022-23.
A full audit process of assets across the Risdon Prison site will be undertaken before allocating the remaining funding in the 2023-24 financial year.
20 Year Infrastructure Strategy
One of the key initiatives highlighted in the Department Justice Strategic Plan 2022-2027 is to develop a 20 year infrastructure strategy. This strategy will update previous infrastructure planning undertaken by the Department and outline the infrastructure needs and priorities for the Department - taking into consideration the impact of current government initiatives and trends in service delivery on prison and court infrastructure. Notably, the strategy will reflect the priorities and initiatives contained within the recently released Strategic Plan for Corrections.
Northern Correctional Facility
Following the May 2022 announcement that the Northern Correctional Facility would be progressed at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre site, new project governance arrangements were implemented and initial due diligence investigations commenced. This work continued throughout 2022–23 and included statutory planning, potential environmental impacts, potential Aboriginal and Historic (European) heritage impacts, an initial bushfire risk assessment, potential traffic impacts and the provision of access to the site, a new Economic Impact Assessment, plus a new Social Impact Assessment. A number of due diligence investigations have been completed with the reports of the work undertaken publicly available. The information collected through the due diligence work will be used to inform a Request for Tender for architectural design services, site infrastructure services and construction contract administration.
Further information about the Northern Correctional Facility Project is available via the project webpage.
Completed work
Southern Remand Centre & Risdon Prison Complex Upgrades
The Southern Remand Centre is a key infrastructure project that has now been delivered. The Southern Remand Centre can provide accommodation for up to 156 male remandees, housed in two separate accommodation units with shared recreational spaces and a dedicated health facility.
The Government also provided funding for upgrades to key facilities in the RPC needed to support the new remand centre. These include upgrades to the health clinic, gatehouse, inmate processing and visits centre.
The SRC was commissioned on 29 July 2022 with the initial transfer of remandees from the Hobart Reception Prison and RPC.
For more information about the SRC please visit the project webpage.
Hobart Reception Prison
- The essential maintenance of ductwork at the Hobart Reception Prison was completed in December 2019.
- The electronic security system upgrade was completed in 2021. The new electronic security system upgrade has enhanced the security and safety for staff, inmates and visitors at the prison through the installation of new contraband-control equipment and an upgrade to all major security systems.
O’Hara Cottages extension
- The O’Hara Cottages is a pre-release facility on the Risdon Prison site, which previously housed 16 inmates.
- Work was completed in late 2019 to extend the facility by constructing four additional minimum classification rated cottages, accommodating a further 16 inmates bringing the total accommodation capacity to 32.
Read more about the O'Hara Cottages.
Inmate Telephony System Upgrade
- A modern telephone system for inmates in line with contemporary technologies.
- The new telephone system has provided lower call costs and greater access to telephones for inmates.
- The telephone system came online in 2021.
Ron Barwick Prison Upgrades
- The Ron Barwick Prison Upgrades have included a number of improvements to essential correctional infrastructure, including the plumbing and electrical services.
- Most recently a multipurpose facility was commissioned within the existing structure, which will provide inmates and staff with a modern training and education facility.
- Upgrades are now complete to accommodation for inmates with physical and age-related disabilities.
View images of the upgraded facilities in the image gallery.
Police Out of Courts Project, Launceston
Phase 2 of the Launceston Police out of Courts Project is now complete, including:
- Construction of a new interview room and upgrades to the holding cells, sally port, officers' station and court security at the Launceston Supreme Court
- Installation of additional CCTV cameras at the Launceston Supreme Court
- Refurbishment of the officers' station, visits areas, staff office and staff amenities at the Launceston Reception Prison
Police Out of Courts Project, Burnie
In August 2021, the Department met the first phase of the Government’s commitment to remove Tasmania Police from court security and offender transport duties at the Burnie Supreme Court, utilising retired police officers as court custody officers on a temporary basis. These officers provided a crucial support role for both the Courts and the Tasmania Prison Service for over 18 months. In March 2023, the escorting functions were fully taken over by Tasmania Prison Services staff.
Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison
These new facilities opened on 21 October 2018:
- Two new 10-bed minimum security units
- A new 5-bed mother and baby unit
Read more about the Mary Hutchinson Women's Prison.
View images of the upgraded facilities in the image gallery.