A case of mistaken location had residents and politicians last week believing that a new maximum security prison was planned for Bacchus Marsh.
In the 2018-19 Victoria Budget papers, released on Tuesday, the state’s recently announced $689.5 million plans to build a new 700-bed, maximum-security men’s prison at the Lara Prison Precinct was listed as being in Bacchus Marsh for completion by 2021-22.
Opposition MP Edward O’Donohue promptly called for the premier’s office “to come clean” on whether it was an error in the official document or whether Bacchus Marsh would be home to the new prison.
By Wednesday afternoon, a Stop the Bacchus Marsh Prison lobby group had created a Facebook page attracting nearly 100 members.
“Despite spending months claiming that Lara would be home of the new prison, the State Budget clearly states that the town of Bacchus Marsh has been chosen,” Mr O’Donohue said.
“As if the Melton electorate hasn’t had enough.”
A government spokesperson confirmed to
Star Weekly an error was made and that while the precinct borders Bacchus Marsh Road, it is not in Bacchus Marsh and the planned expansion would be in Lara.
“These are Liberal lies designed to strike up fear in the community – they know that the Lara prison will be built in Lara,” the spokesperson said.
The Lara Prison Precinct expansion is planned to be around double the size of nearby Barwon Prison.
Corrections minister Gayle Tierney said that building the new Lara prison was part of the government’s “tough new sentencing laws”.
