Charles Darwin University was in negotiation with the NT Government almost a decade ago to build a prison training centre and remand facility attached to the rural college. 

The plan was to house up to 200 low security prisoners. 

Alderman Tapp-Coutts is determined to make the prison farm a top priority for the NT Government.

“A few years ago there was talk about a low security prison farm here in Katherine for people who commit minor offences, but it seems to have fallen through,” Alderman Tapp-Coutts said. 

“People who commit minor offences should be rehabilitated so they don’t end up going back to jail. 

“At a prison farm they could learn new skills while being rehabilitated and could come back into the community more easily,” she said. 

“I think we really need one, our jails are filling up with people committing minor crimes like not paying fines or repeated traffic offences.”

The Labor Government proposed prison farms at both Katherine and Tennant Creek in 2010. 

Tennant Creek’s farm went ahead in 2011, but Katherine’s was scrapped. 

NT Correctional Services commissioner Mark Payne told Katherine Times last year he would “love to take a look at” opening a prison work camp in Katherine. 

“We have a work camp at Nhulunbuy and we have a work camp at Tennant Creek,” Commissioner Payne said. 

“The Barkly Work Camp at Tennant Creek has become an integral part of the community; where possible we try and ensure people from the Barkly area use that as a reintegration point.

“Eligible prisoners can complete the end of their sentence at working camps, where they take part in beautification projects and community maintenance jobs,” he said. 

Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson said the government would be sticking to “current policies” for the time being.

“The previous Territory Labor Government did have plans to look at a feasibility study for a new Katherine prison farm,” Ms Nelson said. 

“These plans were scrapped under the former CLP government. There have been significant changes since then.

“Corrections policy has to be based on good evidence and on the needs across the Territory and as the local member for Katherine I will continue to ensure that the needs of locals are high on the Territory agenda,” she said.

“The Government is committed to our current policies such as developing the Territory’s first Aboriginal Justice Agreement.”

Alderman Tapp-Coutts said Katherine needs a new strategy to deal with the cycle of crime in Katherine. 

“We see all of these crime statistics and nothing is changing, more and more police are in town, we need to try something new,” Alderman Tapp-Coutts said. 

“We need to focus on prevention and offer counselling services and help these people learn new skills. It is something I feel strongly about, so we are not just churning people through the system. 

“It was big on the agenda awhile ago and I think it needs to go right back on. I have asked council to put something together so we can vote on it at the next meeting,” she said.