Challenges and wish-list for Premier in Westbury
Photo by Mike Moores
Premier Peter Gutwein and Corrections Minister Elise Archer heard arguments both for and against the prison development when they arrived in Westbury for a media conference and meetings with opposing groups.
By Sharon Webb
THE NEW Premier of Tasmania, Peter Gutwein, showed no sign of backing off on his government’s plan for the new $270m Northern Regional Prison at Westbury when he visited the town with Corrections Minister Elise Archer last month. ‘Today is my first opportunity as Premier to see the site and meet people here to try to understand the issue,’ Mr Gutwein said. ‘From speaking to people in Westbury I think the response to the prison is positive but I understand some in the community aren’t happy with the idea.’ Mr Gutwein visited the proposed site on Birralee Road then spoke to people around town. ‘I went to the toilet at the Westbury Recreation Centre and as I came out I spoke to a family who were very happy about a prison,’ he enthused. ‘When I went for a coffee a group of men in the shop also thought it was a great idea.’
On Westbury’s pretty village green, as Mr Gutwein gave a media conference and spoke to prison objector Emma Hamilton and her family, a police car cruised by to check on the small crowd. Resident Phil Giles told the Premier he’d moved to Westbury in March last year but was on his way to a job interview. ‘If this prison goes ahead my family will move out of Westbury,’ he said. The bonhomie continued in a ‘very friendly’ 45-minute meeting between Mr Gutwein and 11 prison supporters, also attended by Ms Archer and Lyons MHA Mark Shelton.
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Premier’s visit to Westbury
Westbury resident Grace Rock said Mr Gutwein told the group everyone he’d met said, ‘Just build it’. Ms Rock’s group told the premier about their wish-list of new facilities for Westbury, should the prison be built. ‘We mentioned the need for a new police station, an ambulance station, work and training opportunities for our young people, a retirement village, a swimming pool and perhaps a PCYC for the younger generation,’ she said. ‘We were very pleased to hear Mr Gutwein’s statement that the prison will be built.’ Nine anti-prison residents, including WRAP president Linda Poulton, met Mr Gutwein later in the day. ‘He listened – the first government minister we’ve met who actually listened and engaged,’ Ms Poulton said. ‘But he had a pre-conceived argument for everything we said. He was leaning towards the prison, not taking a middle line. He challenged a fair bit of what we said and tried to downplay sentiment against the prison in the town.’ In the meeting Ms Poulton told Mr Gutwein it was ludicrous that no-one could build a house on an industrial estate – but the government planned to house hundreds of prisoners in the Valley Central zone. ‘We told him we will litigate against the prison on planning grounds. We will challenge and delay the process until we’re heading into the state election and then we’ll run an independent candidate. ‘He asked me if that was a threat and I said, “No, it’s a reality. If you’re not listening to us now, the Westbury booths won’t be as good for you in the next election”.’
