By Laura Michell
Wyndham council will lobby the state government to transform the Port Phillip Prison site into a Pentridge-style mixed-use development rather than the land being sold for housing.
Last month, Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan announced Port Phillip Prison would be closed by the end of 2025, with inmates to be transferred to other maximum-security facilities, including the new Western Plains Prison near Lara.
The closure of the prison will result in the loss of 700 local jobs.
The state government said future use of the 60-hectare prison site in Truganina would be decided in consultation with the community, while Mr Erdogan said the site may be transformed into a “prospective mixed-use site” similar to what has been built on the former Pentridge site in Coburg.
Mr Erdogan did not rule out the government selling the site.
Council will write to Mr Erdogan, seeking that he “reinforces his support and commitment” for a Pentridge-style development at the site by establishing a stakeholder reference group and committing resources to establish a dedicated future masterplan for the site.
Councillor Josh Gilligan said the minister’s comments were welcomed because Wyndham needed “jobs and services, not just more housing”.
Speaking at the July 23 council meeting, Cr Gilligan said the closure of the prison presented ” an important intergenerational opportunity”.
He said the Pentridge development combined nightlife, commercial developments and housing that has brought in “many, many millions of dollars of economic life … in Merri-bek”.
“It presents an opportunity that I think we must seize the moment for,” he said.
Cr Mia Shaw said the redevelopment of the Pentridge site was a “great example of what can be done”.
“I think our community and our municipality would thrive on a similar model, so it would be great to see this go forward … because unfortunately I am concerned it would be just sold to developers for housing,” she said.
Cr Adele Hegedich said it was an opportune time for council to write to the state government because any future development of the site would impact on the rest of the community.
