Prisoners will soon move in to a new 100-bed unit at the Metropolitan Remand Centre in Truganina.
The Billingham unit – part of the first stage of a $65 million expansion and upgrade of the maximum security remand centre – was opened by Corrections Minister Edward O’Donohue last Friday.
Mr O’Donohue said the expansion would play a critical role in managing some of the state’s most difficult offenders.
CCTV, drug and explosive detection booths, a biometric security system, under-vehicle searching, perimeter detection systems and electronic movement passes will all be used to maintain a secure environment.
“The expansion builds on the prison’s status as one of Victoria’s most secure facilities, which uses state-of-the-art technology to ensure the safety and security of the prison,” Mr O’Donohue said.
Work on the unit started in May last year and finished earlier this month.
Construction of a second 100-bed unit, expected to open in January, is already under way. It will increase the prison’s capacity to 1005 prisoners, making it Victoria’s second-largest jail.
The first stage of the expansion created 34 prison officer jobs. A further 38 positions will be created when the second unit opens.
