Prisoners help stop rubber-necking on Ipswich Motorway upgrade

Prisoners at the Borallon jail are jumping at the chance to help with the Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Wacol and Darra.

While the inmates aren’t actually hitting the bitumen they are building equipment for the upgrade from within the prison walls, such as bicycle racks and ‘anti-gawk’ screens.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said a new employment program involving the prisoners was killing two birds with the one stone - teaching inmates new skills and helping the State Government build tomorrow’s Queensland today.

“Not only are the prisoners providing much needed help with a vital road project, but they are also improving their job chances for when they are released,” he said.

“And they are giving something back to the State. The Bligh government’s massive infrastructure program means skilled labour is at a premium on many projects across Queensland.”

Minister Pitt and Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said a Main Roads-funded partnership between SAFElink Alliance, the Civil Construction Federation, Serco and the Borallon Correctional Centre had developed the program for prisoners.

The program offers training and work experience in the construction industry as part of a Certificate I and II in Civil Construction.

“Prisoners are helping Main Roads by building equipment like bicycle racks and ‘anti-gawk’ screens that will be used during the upgrade,” Mr Pitt said.

“Anti-gawk screens are an important safety measure often used on major projects to screen roadworks from motorists’ peripheral vision. This reduces the risk of driver distraction and crashes.

“Basically, they stop drivers rubber-necking. The anti-gawk screens block out what is getting drivers’ attention and in the process distracting them from where their eyes should be – on the road.

“Some 4300 screens have already been fabricated in the last few months and have already been installed around the worksite.

“These screens were of an excellent standard, and have been praised by both members of the community and other road construction contractors.”

Mr Pitt said the program provided an innovative solution to resourcing problems during Queensland’s infrastructure boom.

“With so much construction work underway, particularly in the Ipswich area, sourcing quality supplies and workers is a major challenge,” Mr Pitt said.

“Working with the Borallon Correctional Facility is one way we can source vital equipment without having to import products from interstate or overseas, and also allows us to contribute long-term development and rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners.”

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said a pilot group of 10 prisoners had attended classes at Borallon every three weeks as part of the program. The program includes:

·courses pertaining to the Certificate I and II in Civil Construction

·workbooks for theory-based learning

·industry work, conducted in Borallon’s industry workshop, such as building anti-gawk screens

·scenarios, including building footpaths and plan reading, improvements to the Borallon Correctional Facility and construction of a training room and fencing with project employees.

“The pilot group has now finished. However, it generated so much interest a second group of participants will commence the program early next year,” Ms Spence said.

“Up to 38 offenders could complete the program during the motorway upgrade project.”

Borallon Correctional Facility has received requests for similar screens from contractors and suppliers across the region, potentially providing an ongoing business stream for the prison.

The program is being offered as part of the Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Wacol to Darra, which is widening the Ipswich Motorway from the Logan Motorway at Gailes to Jervis Street at Darra, including a major upgrade of the Centenary Highway interchange.

The Australian Government has fully funded $700 million for the upgrade of the first three kilometres of the five kilometre section between Wacol and Darra. This will relieve congestion along the motorway, improving safety and reliability for motorists.

Construction began in March 2008 and is expected to finish in late 2010.

Main Roads established the SAFElink Alliance to deliver the Ipswich Motorway upgrade from Wacol to Darra. The SAFElink Alliance consists of five partners including Main Roads, Leighton Contractors, BMD Constructions, Maunsell Australia and Arup.

Construction began in March 2008 and is expected to finish in late 2010.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Minister Spence’s Office 3224 7479