News - Government

On 2 July, in the middle of the open plains between Mitchell and the Federal Highway, Minister Katy Gallagher unveiled the name for the youth detention centre. It is to be known as the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre - so-named after Mt Bimberi, the highest peak in the ACT, and reflected apparently the 'lofty goals' of the new centre rather than musty gaols of old. (Sorry - couldn't resist that word play...)

The centre will cover about 11 hectares and cost $42.5 million. ABC Radio has hooked onto the fact that this is a cost 'blow out' of $2.5 million.

You can view a plan of the centre here (486.60 KB) . It will be more like a village than a gaol, with accommodation units, a gymnasium, sports field and court and a swimming pool. (There's a touch of irony that this centre will get a swimming pool before the rest of the community gets one...) Look for the opening ceremony about a year from now.

Full details on the centre are available on the DHCS website, with a location map here.

And a quick note for the Minister's staffers who organised the function: in the middle of an empty paddock with not a tree in sight and freezing winds off the Brindabellas, a loo wouldn't have been a bad idea; and name badges would have helped too - a great networking opportunity lost.

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