State Minister for Corrective Services David Elliott made it official by handing over the keys to the general manager of Bathurst and Kirkconnell correctional centres, Bill Fittler.

The prison will hold 260 minimum-security inmates, mostly young men on shorter sentences. 

The NSW Government announced it would reopen the prison – in response to increasing inmate numbers – in the lead-up to this year’s state election.

A crew of 60 prisoners has been working with contractors at the site since February.

More inmates have gradually arrived this month, resulting in a complete upgrade of the offender reception and intake area as well as extensive improvements to prison security and communications. 

Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin said the facility was recommissioned in record time. 

“It’s a great honour to be here today to recommission a centre that has been missing for a few years as part of the Bathurst cluster,” he said.

Sixty staff will be employed at the centre.

Mr Severin said the community will also benefit through community-based project work that will be carried out by the inmates at the invitation of community groups. 

The commissioner said Kirkconnell first opened with 79 inmates and it now has 230, with another 18 on the way.

There will be 33 custodial staff, 15 industry staff, 10 people involved with programs, and the remainder will be administrative staff. 

“It is a working prison, but has a strong focus on programs,” Mr Severin said.

“The inmates will be towards the end of their sentence, so releasing them back into the community will be a priority.”

Mr Elliott said the government was introducing an extra 1100 prisoner beds across the state this year to cater for the increased inmate population.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said the recommissioning of Kirkconnell had created 60 local jobs, and opportunities for suppliers.