A maximum-security prison is now open in Lara, taking in inmates who will call the facility home for the remainder of their sentences.
Western Plains Correctional Centre opened on June 26, and prisoners started being transferred to the facility from Port Phillip Prison this week.
Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan said close to 900 people were expected to be located in the prison by the end of the year.
“Western Plains is a modern and secure maximum-security prison that protects the community and provides staff a safe place to work,” he said.
“I thank Corrections Victoria and all the staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare the prison for opening, which will set our corrections system up for the future.”
More than 400 custodial officers work on the site, and staff have participated in more than 100 emergency incident response drills and full checks and sweeps of the site to ensure community safety.
Testing was also completed on the facility’s advanced security and barrier control systems, which included AI facial recognition, CCTV and movement systems to monitor inmates across the prison.
The prison featured a flexible design for different inmate groups across eight accommodation communities and a separate 44-bed close supervision and support unit.
Western Plains is the first adult prison to be open across the state in almost a decade, and prisoners will have opportunities to participate in work and education.
