Council Push to Transform Port Phillip Prison Site

Last month, Corrections Minister Enver Erdogan announced that the Port Phillip Prison would be closed by the end of 2025, with inmates being transferred to other maximum-security facilities. This decision will result in the loss of 700 local jobs.

The state government has stated that the future use of the 60-hectare prison site in Truganina will be determined through community consultation. However, Mr. Erdogan has suggested that the site could potentially become a mixed-use development, similar to the one at the former Pentridge site in Coburg. He did not rule out the possibility of the government selling the site.

In response, Wyndham council will be writing to Mr. Erdogan to request his support for a Pentridge-style development at the site. They are also seeking the establishment of a stakeholder reference group and resources to create a dedicated master plan for the site.

Councilor Josh Gilligan has welcomed the minister’s comments, stating that Wyndham needs “jobs and services, not just more housing.” He believes that the closure of the prison presents a significant opportunity for the community.

Councilor Mia Shaw has expressed concerns that the site may be sold to developers for housing, rather than being developed into a mixed-use area. She believes that a similar model to the one at Pentridge would benefit the community and the municipality.

It remains to be seen what the future holds for the Port Phillip Prison site, but the council’s efforts to advocate for a mixed-use development may bring about positive change for the community.