Nominations are now open for expressions of interest from community organisations and all Wheatbelt local governments to host a purpose-built prisoner work camp.
Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the permanent work camp would be built to house 20 minimum-security prisoners in the heart of a Wheatbelt community.
“In the future, this camp will manage a number of small satellite camps to allow prisoners to undertake work in other communities, as well as short periods in more remote locations via mobile work groups,” Mr Porter said.
“The proposed camp will, for the first time, allow offenders on community-based orders to access the camp and its services in order to meet sentencing requirements, including programs and community work.
The Minister said being offered a place at a work camp was a privilege for prisoners but it was no free ride.
“The prisoners are required to work to the standards expected by the community,” he said.
“They can work on a range of projects from infrastructure, environmental and heritage work to disaster relief in local communities, usually for not-for-profit organisations.
“Each year work camp prisoners repay Western Australian communities with some 75,000 hours of work, worth nearly $1million.”
Site selection should be completed by July 2010 with the work camp ready for operation early in 2011.
Applications close on Tuesday, December 15. To discuss the proposed work camp and future development phone Peter Zappelli, Wheatbelt Work Camp Project Officer on 9264 1098. For more information visit, http://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au and follow the links under Adults in Custody.
Minister's office - 9220 5050