No Yarralumla Jail!

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MAJOR RALLY:  On Thursday 1/4/2004 we ask all Canberrans to join us in Garema Palce in Civic at 11:30 to protest against the Yarralumla jail!

The so-called "planning" abilities of the ACT Government have sunk to new lows with the recently leaked decision to move the site of the new Canberra jail facility once again! The original plan to build the facility in Symonston was shelved after uproar from Southside residents. The second best option (or should we say second rate option!) of Jerrabombera seemed to be settled until new plans were uncovered by the ABCs Stateline program last month to consider a third option in Yarralumla at the previously heritage listed Old Canberra Brickworks. The newly proposed site will see the 250 prisoner facility squeezed between the Royal Canberra Golfcourse and the CSIRO Forest Research Centre. Many local businesses, organisations and residents have expressed outrage at the proposal. Some affected organizations include:-

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WHAT CAN I DO?

 

There are three main things you can do to help in the fight against the Yarralumla Jail

 

1)      Build community awareness. The more people who know about this underhanded and sneaky plan, the better so tell your friends, direct them to this website and help create the community outrage needed to stop the jail.

 

2)      Write to the people and organizations below. Remember, this is not a done deal and only YOU have the power to stop it.

The Canberra Times

letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au

or

9 Pirie Street

Fyshwick ACT

2609

 

Mr. John Stanhope

ACT Chief Minister

GPO Box 1020

Canberra ACT

2601

or

log on to http://www.contact.act.gov.au/feedbackform1.asp

 

Mr Simon Corbell MLA

GPO Box 1020

Canberra ACT

2601

 

3)      Attend the protest rally on Thursday 1/4/2004 at 11:30 in Garema Place in the city. Guest speakers will include Nathan Jones from the Yarralumla Neighborhood Society, prominent social justice lawyer Ned Plomeum QC and local historian Phillip Lowe.

HISTORY OF BRICKWORKS

 

Back when the Old Canberra Brickworks was the new Canberra Brickworks(!) this building was a well known centre of innovation in the Canberra Region. As well as supplying many jobs to region it also provided bricks for Old Parliament House, the Melbourne Building and two of Canberras first bordellos. The brickworks also achieved national recognition for the spectacular feat of producing the bricks which were used to build the brickworks itself!

 

After the brickworks closed in 1942 with the increasing popularity of the 50s style fibro house, the buildings fell into disrepair due to extensive rodent damage. In 1963 the building was partially restored in order to house Solid Foundations, a local church-run camp for disadvantaged youth. The camp closed in 1972 following the collapse of the main kiln. Since then the site has had a colourful history, being home to art galleries, craft workshops and a cat training centre. In the 90s the site was earmarked for a variety of uses including an alternative site for Floriade; a rock climbing centre; a heath spa and a night club. None of these eventuated and the night club was eventually built in the disused Center Cinema.

and in 2004 your local government wants to turn it into A PRISON!!!

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LINKS

 

The homepage of the Yarralumla Residents Association: www.yra.org.au

 

Visit the official plans online at ACT Planning and Land Authority: http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/

 

Australian Prison Figure from the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/4524a092e30e4486ca2569de00256331?OpenDocument&Click=

 

The official Hansard report regarding the Jerrabombra Jail Plans http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr160204.pdf

 

Article by Crispin Hull regarding the Symonston Jail Plans http://allhomes.com.au/c/ah?a=sna&i=1032501325&ar=y

 

Canberra Times Article regarding the Yarralumla Jail Plans www.canberratimes.com.au

 

The official Hansard report regarding the Yarralumla Jail Plans http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/dailys/dr160204.pdf

 

Questions or comments? Get in touch with Nathan Jones of the Yarralumla Neighbourhood Society at: