Prison facilities dating back to the late 1800s at Goulburn, along with ageing facilities at Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre, will be retired under changes designed to make conditions safer for inmates and Corrective Services NSW staff and improve coordination across a modern, statewide correctional system.
These changes form part of a broader investment in the correctional system, with the Minns Labor Government planning to bring more beds online and frontline staffing positions into public hands than ever before, including the ability, if required, to scale up in other prisons around the state.
Correctional services will continue to operate from Goulburn and Silverwater. The changes impact outdated wings and units, some of which date back more than a century and no longer meet modern safety standards.
The changes announced today will ensure all affected staff are presented with opportunities for redeployment to equivalent positions within Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW), and there are also incentives for those who may wish to relocate.
The changes respond to recommendations previously made by the Inspector of Custodial Services to retire these Victorian-era wings at Goulburn, and feedback provided regarding the state of the facilities at Silverwater.
Goulburn Correctional Centre's maximum-security accommodation wings opened in 1884 and are among the oldest custodial infrastructure still in use in NSW.
Their age makes them difficult to maintain and operate consistently with the requirements of modern correctional environment.
Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre was built in 1969 and has been criticised for its dilapidated accommodation cells that contain ligature points.
It currently houses two specialist units - the Mental Health Screening Unit and Mum Shirl Unit - which will be moved to Dillwynia Correctional Centre and expanded.
Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre will continue to operate as an intake and reception centre for processing women into custody.
These changes will come into effect operationally by the end of September 2026.
Although periods of transition can be challenging, this Government is committed to retaining all staff and supporting people while they navigate these changes.
They are a positive step towards better work environments for staff and more safe and modern beds for inmates.
CSNSW and the Minister will continue to work with the Public Services Association as these changes are implemented.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to create safer communities and build stronger workforces, including:
- Bringing Junee and Parklea prisons back into public hands, after a decade of Liberal-National privatisation
- Lifting the Liberal National's wages cap
- Prioritising the removal of litagure points
- Investing $30 million in priority reforms across the system, including critical upgrades
Minister for Corrections, Anoulack Chanthivong said:
"Community safety is this Government's top priority. It is for this reason that we are retiring these Victorian era facilities and investing in modern, secure and fit-for-purpose correctional centres.
"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.
"These changes strengthen our system and keep the community and staff safe."
Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW, Gary McCahon PSM said:
"We're committed to ensuring our correctional facilities are in the best condition and have the functional capabilities to meet our high operational standards - and part of that is taking some of the state's oldest beds offline.
"After reviewing prisons around the state, we decided these reforms to our prison infrastructure are necessary to bring the system in-line with our focus on operating safe, secure and humane prisons that provide better working conditions for our officers too.
"Crucially, these changes will allow us to move high-needs female inmates from Silverwater Women's to modern accommodation units at Dillwynia Correctional Centre - ensuring our most at-risk women are in specialised, up-to-date facilities."
