$11.6m expansion planned for Alice jail
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The Superintendent of the Alice Springs Correctional Centre says a $11.6 million expansion is needed because of rising inmate numbers.
The Centre is upgrading its women's prison by putting in a new 24-bed accommodation unit.
Superintendent Phil Brown says the building of the new section will go to tender in a couple of weeks.
"The tender first for the female section is the first part that we're commencing construction on," he said.
"It's a 24-bed accommodation facility where we can hold the females in a more contemporary design."
Mr Brown says he hopes to see the extension completed by next June.
He says it is part of a larger upgrade for the whole centre.
"We're increasing capacity here by an additional 100 prisoners, so the females is one section that we're increasing and improving," he said.
"Rising numbers is one of the reasons why we're increasing capacity with the females and that's why we're building an extra accommodation block for them."
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