Media release – Meander Valley Council, 10 September 2024
What’s next for Ashley? Meander Valley Council pushes for clear plan from State Government
The Tasmanian State Government has announced cancellation of their plans to construct a new 270-bed Northern Correctional Facility at the site of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in Deloraine, choosing instead to upgrade existing prison facilities across the state.
This decision apparently ends five years of uncertainty around the proposed project for the Meander Valley community.
With the facility set to close in the coming years, Meander Valley Council has called on the State Government to provide a clear plan for the future of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre site, how it will offset the negative economic impact of the prison’s withdrawal and what alternative developments might be pursued at this site.
“There’s growing anxiety among our local residents about the availability of jobs and services in the area,” said Meander Valley Council Mayor Wayne Johnston.
“Our community needs clarity on the future of the Ashley site now the prison project is off the table.”
“While we understand priorities change, the Meander Valley community deserves to know how the State Government plans to reduce the economic impacts caused by this decision,” Mayor Johnston said.
“We’d like to see concrete plans that will bring investment, jobs, and growth to our region.”
Mayor Johnston acknowledged that while the project was originally promoted as a major economic driver for northern Tasmania—expected to generate hundreds of construction jobs and long-term employment opportunities—the Council had not received any information from the State Government on their project since early 2024.
“Communication with the government has been severely lacking. We’ve had limited correspondence from the Department of Justice or anyone within the government for months, on this issue and others,” said Mayor Johnston.
“State Government modelling had shown the Northern Correctional Facility could have created up to 273 full-time jobs in Meander Valley by 2040 and increased our region’s Gross Regional Product by $289 million. This would have been the largest investment project in our municipality to date,” Mayor Johnston said.
“While some of our residents may be relieved the project has been dropped, we now need to know what the State Government’s plan is for the site and how they intend to support local job creation and economic development in our region.”
“While other northern Tasmanian regions see major investments, Meander Valley waits to hear about our future. And as we wait, many in our community are worried our region is being left behind,” Mayor Johnston said.
Media release – Westbury Region Against the Prison Inc, 12 September 2024
Meander Valley Council doesn’t need a crystal ball
On 10 September 2024, a media release appeared on the Meander Valley Council’s website representing Mayor Johnston’s view on the abandoned Northern Regional Prison.
Mayor Johnston is right in saying that the maximum-security prison would have been the largest investment project in our municipality to date. The only problem is, nobody other than the Mayor and other supporters of the Liberal Party wanted it here.
Mayor Johnston opines that, following the abandonment of this project, the Meander Valley now “waits to hear about our future”.
But Council need not wait. It just needs to listen to its community and tell the State Government what our aspirations for the site are. It’s not the other way around, as the Mayor suggests.
The Mayor might not possess a crystal ball, but one thing about the future is clear.
The municipality wants to be consulted on the Ashley Site before any decision on it is made by Government and our Council. This will avoid the cluster stuff ups of the past and the divisive games that have been played by the Liberal Government and its lackeys at our community’s expense.
Media release – Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Children and Young People spokesperson, 12 September 2024
Cloud Over Liberals’ AYDC Closure Commitment
The Liberals’ commitment to closing Ashley Youth Detention Centre has looked shaky for a long time, but it’s under more of a cloud than ever after responses made by the Premier and Minister for Children in Parliament.
Ever since the State Government announced their intention to close AYDC the Greens have pushed them to invest the funds needed to get on with the job and meet their own closure deadlines. They haven’t done so, and three years later there’s been very little progress made.
The Commission of Inquiry wrapped up its work early to make sure AYDC could be closed urgently. They even called out Minister Roger Jaensch by name, warning that any delays would be a major issue. Despite that, Minister Jaensch has continued to drag his feet, and now can’t even provide any timeframe for the centre’s closure.
The Liberals should be doing everything they can to close Ashley, and to reduce the number of children at the centre. They are not. We’re concerned this lack of commitment to urgent closure will slide over time towards walking away from closure altogether.
When it comes to closing Ashley, the Greens have consistently echoed the calls of advocates, experts, and the COI. Rather than listening to these voices, the Minister has now resorted to attacking us for raising concerns. It’s a shameful response to a gravely serious issue.
Rather than making excuses and lashing out with attacks, the Liberals should just do the right thing. That means a strong commitment to closing Ashley urgently, and backing that commitment with the resources required to get the job done.
