The state government has appointed the managing contractor for the future youth justice centre to be built at Cherry Creek, west of Werribee.
The appointment means that construction will begin on the project later this year.
The Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos today announced that construction firm John Holland would be responsible for building the $288 million youth justice facility, including an intensive supervision unit, 224 beds for remand and sentenced clients, and a mental health unit.
Ms Mikikaos said the project was expected to create between 2000 and 3000 direct and indirect construction and related jobs, and that locally milled steel would be used during the construction process.
She said the youth justice centre would also bring about 450 ongoing jobs to the area, with a range of roles available including custodial and administration staff, psychologists, teachers, cleaners, gardeners and facility managers.
Ms Mikakos said the project would be required to use at least 90 per cent local content as part, as part of the state government’s Local Jobs First Policy, and that apprentices, trainees and engineering cadets would make up at least 10 per cent of total labour hours on the justice facility’s construction.
“This is going to be a state of the art, high security, rehabilitative complex that is a major part of our overhaul of the Victorian youth justice system,” Ms Mikakos said.
Werribee MP Tim Pallas said the new youth justice centre would put Wyndham “…on the cusp of a boom for our community’s local businesses, reflecting the confidence in the region.”
