Landowners Get Chance To Submit Sites For New Jail

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday March 16, 2006

By ANDREW DRUMMOND

LANDOWNERS keen to cash in their acreage could cause a headache for Illawarra's councils who don't want the new South Coast jail in their area.

Shoalhaven was the only council interested in housing the facility when submissions closed last week with the Department of Corrective Services.

However, landowners now have the chance to put up their hand. A department spokesman said submissions were open until March 28 for owners of land within 60km of Kiama. An 80ha site would be needed for the jail.

"If a bloke out the back of Thirroul somewhere has enough land and thinks it would be suitable as a jail site there's nothing to stop him showing an expression of interest," the spokesman said.

Five councils - Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee - were invited to show their willingness to house the jail.

All except Shoalhaven passed on the opportunity. Wollongong doubted there would be suitable land available. Kiama didn't want to damage its coastal tourism image. Shellharbour was too focused on its Shell Cove marina development and Wingecarribee decided against the option.

Shoalhaven City Council economic development manager Greg Pullen said Nowra and surrounds was capable of supporting the $130 million, 500-bed facility, but didn't have to name specific sites in its submission.

Mr Pullen said Shoalhaven council had been approached by about six land-holders with land available for the prison site. He would not specify the locations, but said one was less than 5km from the Nowra post office.