Murray Bridge | Developments & News

[rhino]

Murray Bridge isn't designated to become anything bigger than it already is. Its services and size accomodate adequatly for the area surrounding it.
Focus on the growth of Mount Barker, Elizabeth, Noarlunga, Victor Harbor, Port Lincoln, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta/Roxby Downs. These are the regional cities that should capitalise on the prospects of enlarged population growth for South Australia and currently offer greater expectations in services to their localities.

I think you will find that Murray Bridge is designated to grow. Just having the jails move out there is going to mean approx 400 security jobs, that's potentially 400 families, that's about 1500 more people. That many more people will require a few more services, and those services will need people to run them - more jobs, more families. Projections aren't quite as large (percentage-wise) as Roxby Downs, but it's gonna grow. As the workforce grows the cheaper industrial land at Monarto is also going to attract industry (warehousing industry is already there - Woolworths). The fact that that land is beside a national railway line will make it attractive for other businesses (look at the industries that are stuck out in the middle of no-where beside railway lines in the US and Canada). The people working those businesses will be living nearby in a community that has the services their families need - Murray Bridge is a provincial city by Australian standards and is only 15km from Monarto (probably less). I see good things ahead for Murray Bridge, and I wish the city well.

[Ho Really]

Talking about Murray Bridge and its potential, what about a freight line from there going north around the Mount Lofty Ranges to the Barossa (Greenock), Gawler and Port Adelaide. Wasn't something like this touted by a businessman a few years ago when the Libs were in power? You could also connect this to the Port Pirie line going north. This would take a lot of freight away from the hills and the Belair line.

Cheers

[rhino]

That line was talked about, but dismissed as being prohibitively expensive, all the land is held in freehold through there. Rail traffic coming from and going to Melbourne would still want to use the Hills route, so the new route would not pay for itself either. If the hills route was closed, Adelaide would effectively become a branchline destination - not the most acceptable situation for the capital city and largest city in the state.

[cyber_256]

Yeah there have been proposals about unloading freight at Monarto, but I don't think it will eventuate just yet. Though big W for example which is out at monarto usually gets its shipping containers trucked from Pt Adelaide, i don't see whats wrong with it being sent up by train instead. Also i've been told in the past that MB used to have a passenger train service to Adelaide and Melbourne, not sure what happened to that, except now we have a coach bus service instead.

Also I will note that in the council plan they want a regular Adelaide bus service...now I am not sure what it is they are looking for but currently we have a coach which goes back and forth about 5 times a day. Maybe they are looking for a Adel. metro link, I am not sure. The town itself has its own metro bus system so maybe they want to link the two.

[crawf]

Theres still a train service from Murray Bridge to Adelaide and Melbourne

The Overland still stops there.

But It would probably be quicker on the bus especially if its along the freeway and its a non stop trip to Adelaide.

[rhino]

Though big W for example which is out at monarto usually gets its shipping containers trucked from Pt Adelaide, i don't see whats wrong with it being sent up by train instead.

Has Big W at Monarto got a rail siding yet? Surely that is the intention, with that site right next to the rail line?

[cyber_256]

Has Big W at Monarto got a rail siding yet? Surely that is the intention, with that site right next to the rail line?

No I dont think so, but I am pretty sure but when BigW was built there intentions was to have rail access.

But It would probably be quicker on the bus especially if its along the freeway and its a non stop trip to Adelaide.

I would say it is quicker, I have used it. The bus actually stops at Mt Barker and other major towns along the way if need be. But in the future if lets say the town does grow above 30k then a regular rail link or more buses may be an option.

[Wilfy 2007]

I can envisage a high-speed train between Murray Bridge, Mount Barker and Adelaide for all the commuters.

Cheers

Now your thinking, a tilt train from Murray Brige to Port Augusta.

Whats the possibility I wonder?

[skyliner]

Mount Gambier also will soon have the added imputus of the Pulp Mill and the spin offs adding to their population.Mid 2006 ABS figures at 24,494 - moving along much faster than in previous 10 years.

[Norman]

Mobilong 'supermax' unit to hold SA's worst criminals

NIGEL HUNT

August 03, 2008 12:30am

SOUTH Australia's new $500 million prison at Mobilong will include a "supermax" high security unit, it has been revealed.
The 30-bed maximum security unit will be virtually escape-proof – with its own security system, airlock doors on all cells and a metal detector to scan every person and object entering the unit.

Maximum security and high-risk prisoners to be held in the unit are likely to be those currently held in Yatala's most secure area – G Division – such as pedophile former magistrate Peter Liddy and violent killer Michael Barry Fyfe.

Others who have been held there include the Snowtown serial killers and confessed terrorism supporter David Hicks.

Correctional Services chief executive officer Peter Severin said it would be "a prison-within-a prison".

"There will be a whole range of measures in place to ensure prisoners who require that type of management can be managed quite separate from everybody else," he said.

Revealing key specifications of the new prison to the Sunday Mail, Mr Severin said it would be the "most sophisticated" ever built in Australia.

It would also be the first in Australia to have both men's and women's prisons housed within the same secure perimeter, sharing facilities including medical centres, kitchens and laundry.

Besides its integrated layout, the new prison will utilise state-of-the-art security systems recently introduced in many interstate and overseas prisons.

They include:

A BIOMETRIC identification system, either fingerprints or eye recognition, for every person who enters the prison.

A SOPHISTICATED automated metal-scanning chamber door system that stops entry to the prison if a person is carrying or wearing any metal object.

AN IONOSCAN drug detection chamber that every person entering the prison has to pass through before being admitted.

A SHOE X-ray scanner that every visitor has to pass through while wearing their shoes.

A HEARTBEAT detector – so sensitive it can detect a cat's heartbeat – to examine every vehicle leaving the secure zone of the prison to detect escapees.

A SPECIALISED prisoner identification and verification system that can track and control the movement of prisoners throughout the prison.

"Technology refreshes itself very quickly and what we have done is picked the best, asked for the best," Mr Severin said.

"I don't think there would be a prison at the moment that would have all of this.

"It will be the most secure border control system in place in Australia.

"Most of this is not intrusive, it is very subtle, but it is extremely effective and particularly contributes to staff safety."

The perimeter of the prison – which will not be a solid wall – will also feature hi-tech security measures both inside and outside.

While Mr Severin declined to elaborate, he said it would have "three detection layers" and he believed it would be difficult for prisoners to get to the first of two physical barriers without being detected.

The three firms chosen to tender to construct the new prison were given the specifications on July 23.

Their proposals are due in December and will be evaluated until April, with the preferred bidder expected to be announced by June. Work is expected to start by September and be completed by late 2011.

Mr Severin said the existing concept of separate divisions currently in use at Yatala would not be used at Mobilong, which is near Murray Bridge.

Besides the "supermax" unit, the tenderers have been asked to provide two 15-bed wings for special-needs prisoners such as those with mental health issues or who need geriatric care.

There will be eight 30-bed units each with higher security and eight units housing up to 50 prisoners for general inmates. Each of the units can be operated individually to house different groups of prisoners – including those needing protection – or to segregate inmates from others for security reasons, such as rival bikie gang members.

One of the 30-bed wings will be equipped with a CCTV camera in each cell to monitor "at-risk" prisoners. There also will be 20 five-bed residential units to house long-serving prisoners who require only medium security and supervision.

The men's prison will have a total of 760 beds, with the tenderers also asked to provide a design option for up to 940 beds.

The women's prison will have 150 beds, with an option for 200. It will include high and medium-security units and a "residential-style" facility.

The new women's prison will also accommodate prisoners with babies and children up to three years old.

There will also be facilities to allow weekend "sleepovers" for their older children.

[Shuz]

I'm very alarmed at the fact that 'weekend' sleepovers are going to be issued for children of prisoners. It's bad enough Daddy killed 3 people in a rampage, you have to live with that fact, and now he wants you to stay over for the weekend, in a prison, where 300 other murderers, rapists, etc. reside? Does this take into any consideration of common sense, rationality, even post-traumatic stress and the welfare of the children?

To quote famously - "Why won't someone think of the children?"

[SRW]

I'm very alarmed at the fact that 'weekend' sleepovers are going to be issued for children of prisoners. It's bad enough Daddy killed 3 people in a rampage, you have to live with that fact, and now he wants you to stay over for the weekend, in a prison, where 300 other murderers, rapists, etc. reside? Does this take into any consideration of common sense, rationality, even post-traumatic stress and the welfare of the children?

To quote famously - "Why won't someone think of the children?"

I think you may have misread. As I read it, these 'weekend sleepovers' are a provision for women prisoners, and even then, most likely only those incarcerated for lesser crimes.

[rogue]

^^ Exactly. These facilities are already available at Northfield Women's Prison.

[Jim]

I am just pleased to see that we are getting a facility that is planned and purpose built from scratch, not some patch up of the existing facilities.

[Jim]

The old Yatla prison will be an excellent site or some housing and reserves in the gorges. I just hope they completely bulldoze the old prison at Yalta and it does not become another lame museum. If the original building could be renovated for a worthwhile use (not a museum) that would be different, but bulldoze the rest.