Jail Inmates will help produce sandbags to help flood-affected residents in a partnership between a NSW  council and a local prison.

It’s the latest project undertaken as a part of a deal between Blacktown City Council and Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney’s west.

Blacktown’s new $90,000 mobile sandbagging machine can produce up to 750 sandbags an hour to help local SES units prepare for flooding events.

The sandbagger, procured from a Brisbane-based agricultural, earthmoving and disaster recovery machinery maker, is capable of bagging wet or dry sand and can be towed to where it’s needed.

Under the agreement, Parklea will provide the manpower to produce the sandbags when they are needed, such as two to three days before forecast major rain.

Previously, Council has supplied sand to SES volunteers to manually prepare sandbags.

Assisting rehabilitation

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale says the city has been devastated by floods in recent years and the sandbagging machine is a vital resource, with nearly 27,000 requests for assistance from residents over the last 12 months.

“It is essential our local NSW SES units have the equipment they need to minimise the impacts of flooding on residents and their properties,” Cr Mayr Bleasdale said.

“Last year, Council determined to acquire a machine that would enable us to speed up the generally slow and arduous process of producing sandbags.”

Parklea’s acting governor Brian Gurney says it’s a win-win for the community and inmates.

“Projects such as these enable inmates to give back to the community and they enjoy helping out where they can,” Mr Gurney said.

“It also provides them with meaningful work and gives them a sense of pride that they have been able to make a contribution, particularly in times of natural disasters, such as floods.”

Inmates from Parklea and Dillwynie Women’s correctional centre have also worked with council on its Knit Bomb domestic violence project, which involves the display of thousands of knitted squares at local landmarks to raise awareness and prompt a discussion.

Last year the campaign featured a 1.5 x 1.2 metre timber ‘safe house’ constructed by inmates in the prison’s cabinet shop.

Meanwhile, inmates also made wooden toys and child-size furniture for Council’s early learning program during the four mouth Covid lockdown in 2022.

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