Work is set to begin early next year on one of the replacement facilities for Tasmania’s Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
The timeline for closing the AYDC, which has faced serious allegations of human rights abuses and sexual abuse of children, remains uncertain as its initial closure date of September next year approaches.
A site located between Brighton and Pontville has been selected for the southern facility, while additional locations for two support centres and two assisted bail facilities, with one in the north and one in the south, are yet to be confirmed.
According to the Southern Midlands Council, recent site assessments, evaluations of natural value and examinations of Aboriginal heritage have been conducted at the greater Hobart site.
The council has also stated on its website that it will seek input from local residents and businesses for the design of the new facility and quoted Minister for Education, Children and Young People Roger Jaensch as saying: “It’s understandable there may be uncertainty, and people want to know what the next steps are.”
“One of the key steps will be seeking input from surrounding property owners, community groups and businesses into the site master planning process, including site layout, buffering and landscaping,” Jaensch said.
“By providing this input, a lot can be achieved to the ensure the new facility will be as discrete and unobtrusive as possible.”
“The new facility will be smaller than the existing Ashley Youth Detention Centre at Deloraine, catering for a smaller number of detainees. It will be designed to provide a more therapeutic, less institutional setting, and landscaped to screen it from view.”
