Residents fear Risdon-like prison riots at Birralee

Sharon Webb

Two residents groups believe Prisons Minister Elise Archer has not thought about the effects of Risdon-like fires and riots at the new prison to be built on Birralee Road near Westbury.

They say riots and fires in the prison could close down Birralee Road, denying residents access to and from their homes.

In addition, if Birralee Road is to be a significant freight route by 2024, planned by the State Government, freight trucks drivers could find themselves in gridlock on Birralee Road, waiting for a lock down to end.

Spokesperson for the residents, Torey Taylor asked, ‘Can we expect in the case of a lock down or riot that all freight traffic will be sent through Launceston’s city streets? Or will local traffic be diverted through back country lanes?

‘There are serious questions over the impact of the prison on traffic on the Birralee Road major freight route.’

In the Risdon riots in early May, media reported that inmates set fire to mattresses in their cells. Emergency services responded, police swarmed the site and dozens of police officers patrolled the prison perimeters.

The Mercury reported that several ambulances were seen leaving the site.

Five male prisoners aged between 18 and 30 were charged with arson.

Another residents group, Concerned Residents Opposed to the Westbury Prison Site, said they had been told events like riots, escapes and fires ‘will never happen’.

‘The latest events at Risdon Prison shows the overwhelming lack of government transparency towards the Tasmanian public with the proposed Northern Prison project. Is it fair on prisoners and Tasmanian taxpayers alike to create a Risdon copy?’ asked spokesperson Aaron Reader.

‘CROWPS members are baffled at the government’s lack of common-sense in insisting that a federally recognised nature reserve, without any services on a narrow dangerous road, is suitable for a prison.’

Ms Taylor said that whether the government admits it or not, there is the real chance of disturbances from the prison impacting on locals on Birralee Road.

‘But we are yet to hear anything specific from the Department of Justice or Minister Archer about how our daily lives might be impacted.

‘So far we have been led to believe that our concerns aren’t valid. Coupled with the lack of community consultation on the proposal this has caused distress and offence to locals.’

Ms Taylor said residents needed to hear from the government that their concerns were valid and what to expect when the prison was operational.

‘We want to know whether Birralee Road will close in an emergency situation at the prison, and whether we will be unable to leave or gain access to our properties in the event of a searches for an escapee’, she said.

After the Risdon riots Elise Archer said, ‘The safety and security of prison staff and prisoners is something that we take extremely seriously.

‘Our correctional staff have a difficult job to do and last night saw them respond quickly and professionally in line with the prison’s processes and protocols.’

Ms Archer was asked to comment on the Birralee residents’ concerns but did not reply.