It’s the $288 million question on everyone’s lips – where’s the business case for the proposed Werribee South youth detention centre?
A month on from announcing its intention to build the high security youth prison on Hoppers Lane, the state government has been evasive about its business case, which details why the site is “preferred” over 15 others it says were also considered.
Wyndham council and resident representatives were told by Werribee MP Tim Pallas and youth affairs minister Jenny Mikakos on February 24 that a summary of the business case would be released within the week. But, nothing has materialised.
Star Weekly has also requested the document several times, only to be told the business case is restricted “under Cabinet-in-confidence”.
The topic of the business case has been subject to ridicule in recent weeks after Mr Pallas told Parliament that Werribee South was not among the initial sites considered for the high security youth detention centre, before retracting his comments later that same day.
Many locals have taken to the Wyndham Star Weekly Facebook page over the past month to question if a business case even exists, or was even done before the state government’s February 6 announcement.
Rosa commented: “We have asked over and over for your exhaustive research into other areas and your reasons for rejecting them. You did no research, no consultation … you made up your mind and that will be it.”
Kristin added: “I bet they are rewriting the business case to show everything is ‘above board’.”
And Miriam wrote: “Gosh what’s next, the dog ate my business case?”
Speak Out – Wyndham’s Voice president Lisa Heinrichs said although she is keen to see the promised business case summary, she doubts whether it would give Wyndham council and residents the answers they’re seeking.
“We were promised the business case, and we’re still waiting,” Ms Heinrichs said. “Even if they had started it [after the announcement], it should have been done by now.”
Ms Heinrichs said residents are also still waiting on responses to questions that went unanswered in the February meeting with Mr Pallas and Ms Mikakos.
Werribee South Ratepayers Association president Joe Garra, who was also at the meeting, said it was disappointing that the government has not followed through on their promise to release the business case summary.
“It is disappointing that the government is doing nothing to decrease the community’s increasing frustration,” Dr Garra said.
