The Northern Territory Government has announced it will develop two new large-scale correctional facilities in Darwin to help relieve the current strain on the Territory’s corrections system.
The facilities will include a dedicated men’s remand and intake centre with up to 1,200 beds and a stand-alone 200-bed purpose-built women’s facility.
The proposed facilities will be delivered on approximately 75ha of Crown Land adjacent to the existing Darwin Correctional Precinct.
The Government plans to deliver the men’s remand and intake centre under a Public Private Partnership with the private partner to design, finance, build, operate and maintain the facility.
“The decision to invest in a remand and intake centre will mean up to 45% of our prison population moves out of DCP into more appropriate accommodation and services, leaving sentenced prisoners to be managed at DCP and Berrimah to be closed,” said Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Corrections, Gerard Maley.
“DCP will then be running at its correct capacity and the Remand and Intake Centre will deliver specialist services for people on remand including education, training, rehabilitation and therapeutic support.”
The new women’s facility will be delivered by Government as a design and construct tender and operated by the Department of Corrections.
“The stand-alone women’s prison delivers on our commitment to have two new women’s prisons in the Territory with Alice Springs now operational,” Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro.
The Chief Minister said Treasury will now move to a formal EOI process with proponents capable of delivering the project from start to operation.
This process will take 12 months with a successful proponent to be contracted by the end of 2027.
Treasurer Bill Yan said a business case has been completed and will be published as part of the expression of interest process.
“It clearly shows that we must make a long-term, permanent infrastructure investment to future-proof Corrections capability,” the Treasurer said.
“The Finocchiaro CLP Government has formed the view that the best value for the Territory is with a design, finance, build, operate and maintain model so that the financial and construction risk is borne by the proponent and Territorians will not start paying for the service until it opens.
“Territorians will have certainty of an annual price to deliver remand and intake services without any initial outlay or risk.”
Corrections Commissioner, Matthew Varley said raising the quality of prison facilities would boost rehabilitation outcomes for prisoners and enhance community safety, while improving staff morale, productivity and retention.
“New modern correctional infrastructure will allow the Department to manage different prisoner cohorts more effectively, support the separation of remand and sentenced prisoners, improve rehabilitation outcomes and strengthen community safety,” the Commissioner said.
“All Corrections infrastructure, no matter who it is operated by, falls under my remit and responsibility so the community can rest assured that the quality and safeguards are high.
“This is an opportunity to build a correctional system designed for the future with better infrastructure, better prison management and better outcomes for community safety.”
