TRANSPORT AUTHORITY CONSIDERS ROEBOURNE PRISON BUS STOP

BY GERARD MAZZA

Credit: Gerard Mazza.

Western Australia’s Public Transport Authority (PTA) is considering a request to install a bus stop at the Roebourne Regional Prison to make it easier for those on the inside to receive visits from loved ones. 

A public bus passes by the Pilbara’s Roebourne Regional Prison on Point Samson-Roebourne Road regularly, however the closest bus stop to the prison is more than a 5-kilometre walk or drive away in the Roebourne township. Hitchhikers can regularly be seen travelling down Point Samson-Roebourne Road.

A community member who travels from Newman to make regular visits to the prison wrote a letter to Mining and Pastoral Legislative Council member Stephen Dawson requesting a bus stop be installed, which prompted a review from the PTA.

Yindjibarndi man and Roebourne local Isaac Guiness, who some years ago spent around 11 months inside Roebourne Regional Prison, said 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.”

PTA spokesperson David Hynes confirmed a request had been received to install bus stops closer to Roebourne Regional Prison and a nearby cemetery.

“These locations are in a very remote location, on a road with a high speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour,” he said.

“Typically, bus stops on roads with speed limits greater than 80 kilometres per hour require the installation of a bus embayment to make it safe for passengers to get on and off. However, given the low estimated patronage and the high cost of construction, the installation of embayments here could not be justified.”

“The PTA will review the access roads to the prison and cemetery to determine if a suitable stopping area – which also allows the bus to safely turn - can be identified. The review will take about two weeks.” 

“If this is achievable, the PTA will consider installing bus stops in these locations.”

The prison has a long driveway with a car park adjacent.