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Queries Over Sale Of Won WronIf the Government persists with its plans to close Won Wron Prison, a major program to maximise the benefits of the remaining infrastructure needs to be undertaken, according to Gippsland MP, Peter Hall. By Peter Hall - 24th January 2005 - Back to News Mr Hall said the Nationals remain strongly opposed to closure of the Prison, a matter raised in State Parliament late last year, when he said it was "absolute lunacy on the part of this government to think about closing a prison when there are still prison bed shortages throughout the state."
This week, Mr Hall said: "Regretfully, it appears that, despite the shortage of beds and the opposition by the local community around Yarram, the Government will persist in closure of Won Wron.
"The Finance Minister, John Lenders, recently replied to queries I raised in Parliament and in that letter he stated decommissioning would take place early this year.
"Interestingly, the Government proposes to retain part of the property because apparently it ‘possesses conservation values that need protection or retention in government ownership’ according to the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
"I would like to know what that means for the potential sale and what impact that might have on future use of the site."
Mr Hall asked the Minister to ensure that essential infrastructure, such as water storage facilities, firefighting equipment, kitchen facilities and the like, remains in place and that proper security arrangements are put in place to protect against vandals. The Minister has agreed to those requests.
"If the prison is to close, the local community would wish to see the sale opportunities maximised and the sale would be more attractive to potential purchasers if items of essential infrastructure remained in place," Mr Hall said.
He has urged the Minister and the Department of Treasury and Finance, which handles such sales, to undertake proper consultation with the local community and the Wellington Shire as well as develop a thorough marketing and sale process. "The Government is closing the prison because it believes it is too far away from the city," Mr Hall said. "I hope the Minister and the Department stop to think about the impact the closure is having on the area, and try to make the best of a poor situation for the local community."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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