Secrecy surrounds the business case for the proposed Werribee South youth detention centre two weeks after the location was announced.
Despite repeatedly insisting that the site at lots 47-49 Hoppers Lane was the most suitable, the state government has suppressed the release of the business case that details why.
State government suburban media adviser Jordy Jeffrey-Bailey dismissed a Star Weekly request to see the business case, saying that the document was “under Cabinet in Confidence”.
Star Weekly also requested the document from the office of Werribee MP Tim Pallas, and was told a summary would be released soon.
“As the business case contains a large amount of personal and commercial in confidence information, a summary of its key findings and recommendations will soon be made public as part of the community engagement process,” a spokeswoman said.
Wyndham council and Lalor MP Joanne Ryan have publicly called on the government to detail the site selection process and criteria behind the decision, with those requests also falling on deaf ears.
Wyndham mayor Henry Barlow said the council was willing to help find another location for the centre, but needed to know what criteria had to be met.
“We are fully supportive of the state government building a facility like this. It has to be built,” Cr Barlow said.
“It just happens to be the wrong site.
“We can’t help them find another site if they don’t give the criteria.”
