Public Works Committee: Adelaide Women's Prison Redevelopment

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (12:01): By leave, on behalf of the member for Florey, I move:

That the 110^th report of the committee, entitled Adelaide Women's Prison New 40 Bed Secure Accommodation and Supporting Infrastructure, be noted.

In its strategic plan, the Department for Correctional Services (DCS) outlined a vision for a safer community through the reduction of criminal reoffending, with a mission to manage offenders in a safe, secure and humane environment that provides opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Adelaide Women's Prison provides a range of services and support structures designed and tailored specifically for its offenders, and DCS has put significant focus in recent years on women offenders, with improved accommodation and security infrastructure that aligns with the department's Women's Action Plan.

The proposed works will bolster wider department goals to reduce recidivism by 20 per cent, by investing in strategic initiatives and addressing factors underlying the women's correctional services interface and the risk of reoffending.

The Adelaide Women's Prison is located in Northfield and presently accommodates 232 low, medium and high-security female offenders. DCS notes that well-designed prison accommodation has the capacity to reduce stress, increase wellbeing and foster better relationships between staff and prisoners and between prisoners themselves—ultimately, all leading to fewer negative behaviours and critical incidents.

Following on from a redevelopment project completed in 2019 that allowed for future growth within the prison's secure zone, the proposed works will build two new residential accommodation buildings, a recreation yard and landscaping within the secure zone on the eastern perimeter of the site. The new accommodation is anticipated to house an additional 40 beds, and the final design aligns with the site master plan and meets industry best practice to create a more agile, flexible and sustainable correctional environment with improved accommodation and security infrastructure that supports rehabilitation into the community. The project also intends to finalise the infrastructure required for the transition of the electronic security systems from analogue to digital.

The department examined a number of options to deliver the project in a cost-effective, value-for-money approach, supported by the major capital works committee. The additional accommodation will build on the successful outcomes of previous builds and the contemporary design will be modelled off the current Rose Unit accommodation and refined based on the post-commission learnings from that facility and will include provisions for:

air circulation;

separate shower and toilet areas;

a kitchen area;

shared recreation space;

cabling for future in-cell technology;

cultural inclusion opportunities;

upgrades of electric security; and

sustainability opportunities.

The project will deliver a mixture of inside and outside communal spaces, providing a level of independence whilst increasing the model of supervision through clear lines of sight and open-plan communal spaces for the accommodation units. Cultural safe spaces and acknowledgement opportunities will also be considered to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal people incarcerated in South Australia through cultural understanding and engagement, further contributing to strategies within the department's strategic plan.

To actively contribute to improving outcomes for all people impacted by the criminal justice system, the Adelaide Women's Prison provides opportunities for prisoners to work and train in various areas, including the kitchen, laundry, textiles, horticulture, landscaping and community works.

The project anticipates that a prisoner construction pathways program will provide opportunities for participants to gain construction skills and develop industry relationships through participation in the project, supporting their rehabilitation into the community and aiding in preparation for life after release. This is similar to other successful initiatives at prison sites in South Australia.

The project is estimated to cost $21 million and cabinet approved funding as part of the 2024-25 budget process with the department stating that ongoing operational funding will be requested in a future budget process. Construction is anticipated to begin in March this year, aiming to be completed in September of 2026 for prisoner occupation the following November.

Project procurement will follow the Department for Infrastructure and Transport's procedures, with the lead design consultant appointed under a lead professional services contract and a cost consultant appointed under a cost management services contract. Contract tenders for the various categories of building works will be offered by invitation, seeking responses with demonstrated prison project experience.

Capital works activities will be overseen by the department's major capital works steering committee, chaired by the Executive Director of People and Business Services. The project will be delivered in collaboration with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport following the best-practice principles for project management. The Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation division has confirmed no record of Aboriginal heritage sites or items have been discovered at the proposed site; neither have any state or local heritage sites or items been identified at the location.

The department has compiled a report to ensure sustainability principles are considered in the design and construction of the project, including energy-efficient lighting and the use of photovoltaic systems, water management systems, energy-efficient air conditioning, procurement of ethical and environmentally friendly resources, the use of recycled materials, the use of durable materials, and the planting of native vegetation.

The project is in ongoing consultation with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield and will continue to work collaboratively with the council to promote local contractor participation. The management teams continue to work with the relevant government departments for project support as well as obtaining all necessary approvals.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Adelaide Women's Prison new 40-bed secure accommodation and supporting infrastructure project. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were David Brown, Chief Executive, Department for Correctional Services; and Sarah Taylor, Executive Director, People and Business Services, Department for Correctional Services. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Based upon the evidence considered and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Motion carried.