Southern Queensland Correctional Centre
The Southern Queensland Correctional Centre (SQCC) is an Australian prison facility located in the Lockyer Valley, 15 km north from Gatton, and 94 km west from Brisbane, Queensland. The 300-bed minimum to maximum security prison for females was built by Baulderstone[1] and officially opened on 21 December 2011 by Corrective Services Minister Neil Roberts.[2] The facilities began operation in January 2012.[3] SQCC is the first completed stage of the Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct in Australia.
| |
| Location | Lockyer Valley, Queensland, Australia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 27.471821°S 152.302745°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Minimum to Maximum |
| Capacity | 300 |
| Opened | January 2012 |
| Managed by | Serco |
The centre provides secure placement accommodation for sentenced mainstream female prisoners classified as high or low security and has 104 secure and 196 residential beds.[3] The facility is managed by Serco.[4] It cost A$485 million to construct.[5]
The high proportion of residential style accommodation at the prison makes it suited to prisoners who have either completed their intervention and rehabilitation programs or who are close to being eligible for parole. Prisoners are housed in 11 cell blocks.[2] Each cell includes a TV, radio and bookshelves.[5]
The prison also includes accommodation for aged and infirm prisoners in a residential unit and a medical centre providing palliative care. As of August 2020 it was announced that there would be a $653 million dollar expansion of the facility that will add an additional 1000 bed capacity.
See also
References
- "Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- "New home for state's most dangerous convicts". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- "Southern Queensland Correctional Centre". Department of Community Safety. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- "Serco to run Spring Creek prison". the chronicle. Toowoomba Newspapers. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- David Iliffe (22 December 2011). "State of the art prison opens in southern Queensland". ABC Southern Queensland. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 January 2012.