Rodney Stevens
A partnership between Serco, Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) and the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) is providing Clarence Correctional Centre (CLA) inmates with valuable employment qualifications and skills through the construction of 2, 3, 4, and 5-bedroom modular houses for locations around the state.
The Clarence Valley Independent toured the impressive facility last month with Serco’s Clarence Correctional Centre General Manager, Scott Jacques, who said the first five-bedroom home was soon to be transported on a low loader to Wellington in mid-west NSW.
CSNSW have a contract with the AHO to supply 20 modular homes, constructed in NSW correctional centres.
The project, which commenced in 2019 is being run in five NSW Correctional Centres, but Mr Jacques said CLA inmates were in a unique position.
“It’s not unique to us, but the difference is because we’re a maximum and minimum-security centre, we are able to have our maximum-security inmates working inside and our minimum- security inmates outside of the wall with both cohorts contributing to the project which is one of the big differences,” he said.
“The program aims to boost the job prospects for inmates when they are released and provides post release support to gain and maintain jobs.
“The projects currently under construction are a 5 bedroom, 3 bath and laundry home consisting of 5 separate modules.
“Each module is built on an engineered sub floor frame.”
Mr Jacques said after completing two 5-bedroom homes, the project had progressed well.
“Quality is a key component, so CSNSW come and inspect them, and the homes have to meet all relevant building regulations,” he said.
“We have just signed a new contract for a further two houses on the back of delivering the ones we have completed.
“The more we can demonstrate the quality, and the turnaround time, the more houses we are going to get to build.”
Mr Jacques said the way CLA Industries operates, it is not a profit-making business for Corrective Services.
“If we build the houses and we make $20,000 profit, that has to be reinvested into the project,” he said.
“So, at the point where our industries make money, anything that’s profit gets reinvested.”
Mr Jacques said Serco planned to reinvest profits from the housing project to construct a large permanent roof over the project site.
He said the heavy-duty steel frames the modular homes are constructed on are manufactured by maximum security inmates in the CLA metal shop.
“We do the complete construction on the houses at CLA from start to finish, they are inspected by Corrective Services and put on a low loader and delivered to the site,” he said.
Minimum security classified inmates who work on the housing project, which has partnered with TAFE NSW can be from any background.
Inmates are involved in every aspect of building the houses including set outs, erection of frame and trusses, internal and external linings, insulation, flooring, tiling, drywall, cornice and setting, installation of doors and door jams, painting, cabinetry installation, plus they learn basic knowledge relating to the electrical and plumbing components.
Mr Jacques said inmates involved in the project have completed several courses including the White Card (general construction induction training), working at heights, confined spaces, forklift, certificate 2 in civil construction, and certificate 2 in construction.
The first two homes built at CLA are destined for Wellington, Narrabri, and the two further homes that will start construction shortly will be headed to Gilgandra where upon completion Mr Jacques said the plumbing and electrical aspects of each home are connected, inspected, and certified.
“We install all of the electric wires and sockets, but the installation of air conditioning and the actual connection and certification of electrical and plumbing works is done on site,” he said.