State's $65m Casuarina Prison plan to get green light

A $65 million expansion plan set to make Casuarina Prison the state’s largest is expected to be given the green light when the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel meets later this week.

The panel is expected to approve the Department of Finance’s planning application for stage two of the Orton Road facility’s expansion, which includes two new 124-bed accommodation units, a new maximum security unit for high threat prisoners, two new education and training facilities, a new building with a laundry, kitchen and industry workshop. 

The proposal also involves minor extensions to the western industries building, including upgrades to the bakery, property store, and administration areas.

The new units will also provide support for priority one mental health cases, aged care and special needs prisoners.

The development represents the second and final stage of major upgrades to the 30-year-old maximum-security prison, after which Casuarina will surpass Acacia as the largest and most complex facility of its kind in WA.

Stage one, which was approved by the panel in July 2018 and constructed by CIMIC Group’s Broad Construction, included 512 additional beds and car parking.

Following completion of the two developments, the prison’s capacity will increase from 926 to more than 1,700.

Stakeholders and state government agencies supported the proposal, but the City of Kwinana recommended a number of conditions be applied, including that stormwater was to be contained and disposed of on site.

The development, which is now deemed a COVID-19 recovery project, is expected to be completed by December 2022 and create hundreds of jobs.

When the expansion plan was unveiled in June last year, Corrective Services Minister Francis Logan said the new unit would be a “game-changer” for how the prison estate was run and help with staff safety and rehabilitation efforts.