Cessnock MP Clayton Barr and mayor Bob Pynsent have expressed their outrage at the outcome of a review into the expansion of Cessnock Correctional Centre.
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Mr Barr said the review of environmental factors (REF), which was released on Friday, has failed to address the community’s concerns regarding the entry and exit, adjustments at the hospital and police numbers.
He said he was “really cranky and upset” after predicting earlier this week that the government was likely to make a number of concessions on the expansion plan, following discussions with corrective services minister David Elliott and commissioner Peter Severin.
“Fundamentally, I am really cranky because I had taken in good faith what I had been told, and it’s all gone pear-shaped,” he said.
“How can the minister and the commissioner not know what’s going on?
“It’s like the head of the dog is doing one thing and the tail is doing something completely different.”
Mr Barr said while he recognised that another entrance was still being considered, he was sceptical about the process.
“When they told me that I said, ‘I appreciate you telling me that, but I and my community cannot believe a word you say’,” he said.
Lindsay Street will remain the general access point for staff and visitors during construction, while Corrective Services NSW works with Cessnock City Council on finding an alternative long-term entrance in response to community feedback.
Cr Pynsent said he was disappointed with the decision, because he wanted a “firm commitment” from Corrective Services NSW that the Lindsay Street entrance would be closed.
“Until this commitment is honoured, council will continue to stand up for the Cessnock community to ensure we get our fair share,” Cr Pynsent said.
“Why should our ratepayers pay for roadworks for a state facility? State roads should service state projects.”
Cr Pynsent said the traffic section of the review as “totally inadequate”, particularly in relation to school hours on Mount View Road and Wollombi Road.
Lindsay Street resident Vicki West said the community was entitled to feel let down.
“I’m not surprised, they promise a lot, but I feel like it was all in place before that meeting,” she said.
Mrs West, who has lived on Lindsay Street for almost 40 years, said the traffic has increased dramatically in recent years.
“The jail itself never worried me, but now it’s getting bigger, the traffic is getting busier and busier, especially on weekends,” she said.
“Expanding it will make things a lot worse.”
The new centre will be set back a further 90 metres to protect native flora and fauna, with a landscaped three-metre high earth mound to provide visual amenity.
Cr Pynsent was pleased at the inclusion of the mound, but that its height was critical in blocking out the view to passers-by.
“We don’t want to be known as the jail town, we’re the wine town,” he said.
Commissioner Peter Severin said the REF considered and addressed potential environmental and social impacts, as well as taking into account feedback from the community in determining the final proposal.
“The review has resulted in a number of changes and strikes the right balance between the needs of the community and the urgent demand to address the growing prison population,” Mr Severin said.
“The entrance to the centre is outside the Review of Environmental Factors process.
“The location is being seriously considered and we will be consulting with Cessnock City Council in the coming months.”
Mr Severin said the economic impact of the expansion will be positive and provide secure local employment and additional annual local expenditure.
“The expansion will see an additional 1000 beds built in three new facilities, creating almost 400 new jobs and injecting more than $30 million worth of wages into the community,” he said.
A community information session will be held at the jail’s administration building on Tuesday, November 15 from 4pm to 7pm.
The Review of Environmental Factors can be viewed online at www.correctiveservices.justice.nsw.gov.au/new-prisons/facilities/cessnock or in hard copy at Cessnock Library and Cessnock Council Chambers.
EARLIER REPORT
4 Nov 2016, 10:46 a.m.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent has slammed the decision that Lindsay Street will continue to be used as the main entrance point to Cessnock Correctional Centre.
Nearby residents were hopeful that the access would be closed after the 1000-bed expansion, and revelations by Fairfax Media earlier this week hinted that this may be the case.
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr said on Sunday it appeared the government was prepared to make concessions, including the relocation of the prison’s entrance to Wine Country Drive.
But the Lindsay Street gate remains on the plans in the Review of Environmental Factors, which was released on Thursday.
Lindsay Street will remain the general access point for staff and visitors during construction, while Corrective Services NSW works with Cessnock City Council on finding an alternative long-term entrance in response to community feedback.
But the council said on Friday morning it is “bitterly disappointed” with the decision.
“The Review of Environmental Factors in no way addressed the increased traffic that will inevitably be generated by the expansion of the facility, which will make Cessnock home to the largest prison in NSW,” Cr Pynsent said.
“I know local residents will share my outrage.
“At the community meeting held in August the sentiment of the community was resoundingly in support of closing the Lindsay Street entrance.
“Not only is it concerning the major entrance for such a large facility is in a residential area but that Cessnock rates payers are being forced to foot the bill of road wear and tear which is a direct result of a NSW Government facility.
“The report held Lindsay Street is sufficient to handle the additional traffic.
“It is hard to believe the increased traffic will have no impact on local roads.”
An alternative entrance was still “under active consideration”.
Cr Pynsent said he wants to secure a commitment from Corrective Services NSW that Lindsay Street will not remain the major access road to the complex.
“Until this commitment is honoured, council will continue to stand up for the Cessnock community to ensure we get our fair share,” Cr Pynsent said.
“Why should our ratepayers pay for roadworks for a state facility, State roads should service state projects.”
A community information session will be held at the jail on Tuesday, November 15 from 4pm to 7pm.
