ROEBOURNE PRISON TO GET BUS STOP

BY GERARD MAZZA

Roebourne Regional Prison. Credit: Gerard Mazza.

Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority has confirmed it will install a bus stop near the Roebourne Prison in the Pilbara region.

Currently, the nearest stop to the prison is more than five kilometres away, despite public buses passing by regularly.

Last month, a Newman resident who regularly travels to visit the prison contacted Mining and Pastoral Legislative Council member Stephen Dawson to request a bus stop be installed to make it easier for family and friends to visit inmates.

Her letter prompted a PTA review which found there were access roads near the prison where a bus stop could be safely installed.

“Our bus contractor is in discussion with prison representatives to determine the best location for the stop,” a PTA spokesperson said.

“Due to the inclusion of the new bus stop, changes will be made to the Route 880 and 881 bus timetable.”

A spokesperson for the PTA said the new stop is expected to be operating from late August.

Yindjibarndi man and Roebourne local Isaac Guiness, who some years ago spent around 11 months inside Roebourne Regional Prison, previously told Ngaarda Media a new bus stop would benefit the families of inmates.

“They’d be more comfortable knowing that they’ve got good transport there,” he said.

“A lot come from a lot of other places, and they find it hard to get there to visit.”

Mr Guiness said creating a bus stop would also benefit inmates and “give them assurance that families are coming.”

“I can see that when families don’t make it to visit, they have a bit of a struggle on the inside,” he said.

“There’s a lot going on inside of them, and [it’s difficult] not understanding what’s happening on the outside when families cannot make it.”