Prison plan under fire
PORT Welshpool locals are strongly against having a day prison in their town.
South Gippsland Shire Council has recently been in discussion with Fulham Correctional Centre in regards to the possibility of having a prison day camp in the Port Welshpool Holiday Cabins on Lewis Street.
This is one of several locations around the town council has considered.
“Nobody wants it,” Port Welshpool’s Mollie Rose said.
“They are concerned with how close it is to Barry Beach now that every port is being considered as a high risk terrorist area.”
Minister for Corrections Edward O’Donohue said the Victorian Government announced last year it would seek to reintroduce work camps for the lowest security rated prisoners to undertake valuable work in the community as a way of repaying their debt to society.
“This is intended as an extension of the valuable community work partnerships programs which see prisoners contributing in different ways to communities all over the state,” he said.
“Examples of such work include assisting various fire and flood emergencies, and undertaking work under the Landmate program.”
Port Welshpool General Store owner Peter Rose said council needed to better consult the public before implementing the idea.
“The community’s panic stems from lack of information,” he said.
“Cr Jeanette Harding asked me to help gain some public support but we need to be enlightened on what they plan to do.”
However Mr Rose did believe there was a positive element to the day prison: it would mean more work will be done in Port Welshpool.
However, he said the public has been given enough information and everyone, particularly the elderly in the town, was feeling insecure.
“We’ve been led to believe these will be white collar prisoners but we need to know more,” he said.
“Council needs to be more open with us.”
Locals are also concerned about the lack of police services in their area.
Despite the correctional centre promising around the clock security, locals are distressed about police assistance.
“Our nearest police station is Toora and at times it’s unmanned,” Mr Rose said.
“Our nearest 24 hour police station is Wonthaggi or Warragul. I’d be interested to know how they (the police) feel about this.”
Mr Rose believes the best course of action was for council to hold a public meeting with the Port Welshpool community.
“We don’t need to hear from the correctional centre because most don’t want it,” he said.
“But council needs to let us know what’s going on.”
Mr O’Donohue said the location of the day camp has not been determined.
Port Welshpool Holiday Cabins is in the main street of Port Welshpool, across the road from the town’s only playground.
Location, location: Port Welshpool General Store owner Peter Rose points out the caravan park which could become a prison day camp.
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