Grafton Correctional Facility

The state-of-the art modern 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.

NorthernPathways 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
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. “Our goal is to shape the pathway of every inmate in our care to give them the best chance at becoming responsible citizens again. We will do this in a humane and decent setting where inmates will undertake inclusive rehabilitation and reintegration programs vocational education and training focused on in-demand skills to prepare them for real work. We are privileged to be afforded this opportunity and are committed to making a positive difference through our work at the New Grafton Correctional Centre.”

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” he 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.”