SHOALHAVEN 2020: SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS Dennis Argall MEDIA RELEASE 27 JUNE 2008: NOWRA GAOL The prospect of a few jobs associated with the construction and staffing of the Nowra Gaol is just a fragment of the issues we need to address as quickly as possible. The gaol means a need to train people for staffing if those staff positions are not to go to new arrivals. There is a small number of Aboriginal people doing pre-apprenticeship programs in expectation of work. This is good, but it needs to be a program expanded in indigenous and non-indigenous communities. There will be many issues associated with mental health with 500 inmates. There are NO plans as to who will do this work. The Nowra Community Mental Health Service is understaffed and at breaking point. The state government is failing on commitments to put a psych ward in the hospital. All these things must be gotten up to speed and staffed. We need to get people trained to do the jobs. There will be families and other associates arriving with the inmates of a gaol and Nowra is 'handout heaven' in terms of available government and welfare services. Many who come to visit will stay. Too many in the community - and the council - are turning their heads away. We have to decide if this gaol is a sore we try to cover and bury, or whether we do all the things needed to incorporate into community. If we do not do the latter, if we do not take a proactive approach, social problems in Nowra will multiply and promotion of Nowra will be difficult. Berrima and Goulburn do not offer us useful lessons on a gaol arriving in the town. Different places, different histories. When elected as Mayor I will immediately get the council to convene a conference of community, welfare and government representatives to establish a 'Community Task Force on the Gaol'. Objectives: skills development for employment in all relevant areas, resource enhancement for all social and community and rehabilitation issues. Close this window to return to previous document |