Yatala Labour Prison Redevelopment

The Project

As part of the SA State Government’s Better Prisons Program launched in 2018, the Yatala Labour Prison Redevelopment project was targeted to deliver an additional 270 high-security beds and supporting infrastructure to the existing prison facility.

WGA was appointed to provide civil, structural, traffic and geotechnical engineering services for this $150m project. The scope for the redevelopment included new staff car parking and ring road, administration building and business centre, staff wellbeing centre, new visitors/admissions and kitchen facilities, two double-storey high-security accommodation buildings, a specialised accommodation and support building, as well as site security fencing and infrastructure upgrades.

Technical Solutions

WGA has worked on a number of prisons in SA and developed a refined ‘Flat Pack’ precast accommodation block design which utilises conventional flat precast panel contractors to produce a fully precast accommodation block. This allows the builders to tender to multiple precast companies in a competitive environment and speeds up mobilisation time. Security considerations are also crucial to building and civil landscape designs. Through close collaboration with our clients, WGA has put into place a wide range of innovative security design components such as “Thermal Mass” precast concrete panels that integrate with high-level security doors, anti-dig barriers and the important aspects of sightline considerations in our designs.

Client Focus

WGA understands the important requirements of a Defect Free and Low Maintenance Handover for all correctional facilities due to the high-security operation environments. Over the past decade, our engineering team has worked closely with the Department of Correctional Services and the managing contractors to ensure a progressive and collaborated inspection process is in place throughout the duration of the design and construction timeline of each project.