Prison shake-up: Junee braces for surge of max security inmates

JUNEE Correctional Centre is preparing for a major influx of maximum security inmates after the NSW Government confirmed one of the state’s oldest and harshest jail wings will be shut down.

In a move that will reshape the state’s prison network, the government last week announced Goulburn Correctional Centre’s 140-year-old maximum security wing will close by the end of September, with all 170 inmates currently housed there to be transferred to Junee and Clarence correctional centres.

The ageing Victorian-era wing, long regarded as one of the most notorious sections of the state’s prison system, has housed some of NSW’s most serious offenders for more than a century.

Now, after years of mounting concerns about its condition, the cells are being retired for good.

Corrections Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said the government was phasing out outdated prison infrastructure in favour of modern, safer and more secure facilities.

“As inmate numbers rise, we are ensuring our staff have the safest possible workplaces and that those in custody are housed in facilities that meet contemporary standards,” Mr Chanthivong said.

“These changes strengthen our system and keep the community and staff safe.”

The closure applies only to Goulburn’s maximum security wing and will not affect the centre’s minimum security section or its high-risk supermax unit.

Staff impacted by the move will be offered redeployment to equivalent positions within Corrective Services NSW, with incentives also on the table for those willing to relocate.

A consultation period of between three and six months has been flagged, with the transition expected to be completed by the end of September.

The closure comes after growing scrutiny over conditions inside the wing, which ranks among the oldest custodial facilities still operating in New South Wales.

A 2022 report by the state’s prison oversight authority found most cells in the section were poorly ventilated, exposed to extreme heat and cold, and contained ligature points — a damning assessment that reinforced concerns the facility was no longer fit for purpose.

For Junee, the announcement signals another major shift in the prison’s role almost 12 months after the facility returned to government hands, ending more than two decades of private management.

While some locals have welcomed the move, pointing to possible employment growth and broader economic benefits for the town, others fear the flow-on effects could deepen pressure on Junee’s already stretched housing market.

Rental availability in Junee remains critically tight, with few, if any, properties consistently available, raising fresh concerns about where incoming workers and relocating families could be housed if staffing needs increase.