A Preferred Bidder has been selected for the New Grafton Correctional Centre (NGCC) project, involving the construction of a new correctional complex in New South Wales.
The Northern Pathways consortium has been chosen to build the state of the art, modern correctional centre.
Northern Pathways is a consortium of four companies which are local and international leaders in their fields:
- Serco – a leading operator of correctional facilities in Australia, New Zealand and the UK
- John Holland – operating in Australia for over 60 years, a Tier 1 Australian builder and recognised leader in the corrections sector
- John Laing – with an unsurpassed global track record as independent investor and manager of PPP projects
- Macquarie Capital – Australia’s recognised financial advisory leader in infrastructure and PPP projects
The correctional centre will play a key role in the NSW justice system serving the northern part of NSW. It will be the primary correctional complex for all corrections operations from the Queensland border in the north, Kempsey in the southeast and Tamworth in the southwest.
The project will create 1100 jobs during construction and 600 during operation and is expected to boost the local economy by more than $560 million over 20 years.
The NGCC will be made up of individual facilities which will hold three different categories of inmates safely, securely and entirely separately. It will include a 1000-bed male maximum security facility; a 300-bed female maximum security facility; and a 400-bed male minimum security facility.
Both the centre itself, and the programs that inmates will participate in, are designed with the goal of reducing reoffending and making our communities safer.
Construction is due to commence in mid-2017 and the new centre will open in 2020.
Chief Executive Officer of Serco Australia, Mark Irwin, said the project will bring significant, long term benefits to Grafton and the Northern Rivers.
“We are looking forward to working with the people and businesses, as well as community and not-for-profit organizations, in and around Grafton to build and operate this unique centre as part of the community,” Mr Irwin said.
Chief Executive Officer of John Holland, Joe Barr, said they have extensive experience in the construction of correctional facilities.
“We successfully delivered projects such as Cessnock Correctional Centre in NSW and Risdon Prison Complex in Tasmania. We are also currently working on the 1000-bed Ravenhall Prison in Melbourne. We will have training programs in place to recruit and train local people, so they can get employment not only in the construction phase, but in operations as well,” Mr Barr said.
Chief Executive Officer of John Laing, Olivier Brousse, said, “We are glad to have the opportunity to invest in this ambitious project that is not only about delivering and maintaining a building, but more importantly about making a positive impact on people via rehabilitation programmes.
“This project shows how private investors can commit to helping public authorities solve problems and improve the delivery of public services. We believe it’s the future of public private investment and it is now under way at Grafton Prison.”
