It’s just short of two months since Member for Bathurst Paul Toole announced the minimum security prison would be reopened after the NSW Government’s controversial decision to close it about four years ago.

The closure cost the region a number of jobs.

It is expected the $4 million upgrade will allow Kirkconnell to house up to 260 minimum security prisoners in 13 accommodation units.

A Corrective Services NSW spokesperson said there are now 40 inmates on-site at Kirkconnell.

“We are still on schedule for reopening of the facility in late June or early July,” the spokesperson said. 

Progress has also been made in filling the job vacancies at the centre.

“During the recruitment phase there were 170 applicants, with 102 going through the interview process before 60 were selected,” the spokesperson said.

“Training for the 60 recruits began in Bathurst on April 13. This training is usually conducted in Sydney, but to cater for the new recruits it will be done locally.”

Mr Toole said work to recommission the facility was progressing well.

“There have been major upgrades to the sewerage, power and water, fire safety, as well as IT upgrades, security upgrades, general grounds work and painting,” he said.

“I am advised that work is ahead of schedule and the 40 new inmates are an increase on the original 11 inmates that were on-site some weeks ago.”

Apart from the 60 Corrective Services jobs at Kirkconnell, Mr Toole said there would also be ancillary support staff working there.

He said having the facility recommissioned came as a result of his constant lobbying to the former attorney general Brad Hazzard.

“When prisoner numbers started to increase again and more places were needed to house them, I made it a priority to push for Kirkconnell to be brought back online,” Mr Toole said.

He said when Kirkconnell closed, 12 staff took voluntary redundancies and 40 accepted positions at other jails, including at Bathurst, Lithgow and Oberon.

Before the recent state election, Mr Hazzard said legislative changes and active policing had resulted in an increase in the prison population.

“The opening of Kirkconnell Correctional Centre followed staged expansions at centres including Long Bay and Lithgow, where 635 beds were added over the past year,” he said.