Minister for Immigration, Chris Bowen, details Inverbrackie centre plans

Minister for Immigration, Chris Bowen, details Inverbrackie centre plans
Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, joined ABC Adelaide's 891 Mornings program to explain the recent announcement to create a Commonwealth Government immigration centre in the Adelaide Hills.
Facing opposition and concerns from local communities about the lack of consultation with residents over the decision, the Minister quite plainly stated 'it is our responsibility and it is our decision.'
"It is Commonwealth land and all of the costs will be borne by the Commonwealth," Mr Bowen told 891 Mornings.
In an announcement to transform an old Defence housing area in Inverbrackie into a low-security detention centre for immigrants waiting processing, both state and local governments still seem to be scrambling for details.
Local health requirements
With locals fearing the results on local infrastructure of the arrival of 400 extra residents, Mr Bowen said the residents' needs would be met by the Federal Government.
"The Department of Immigration brings in all the necessary medical support.
"We bring in our own doctors, our own psychiatrists, our own nurses," Mr Brown said.
He said if hospitalisation was required for a detainee, they would be taken to a local facility, 'but that is a very, very rare occurrence'.
Schooling
With 400 residents expected to be held in the centre, a large number would be children, requiring educational programs and teachers.
Mr Bowen said the department discusses opportunities with local schools, including the possibility of increasing local staffing, classroom and equipment levels.
"We pay for that, but we do all of that in consultation with the local school."
If the school is unable to cope with the additional requirements, Mr Bowen said the government would organise alternative arrangements.
"We won't send anyone to school that the school won't cope with."
Late notice
Mr Bowen said although communities in future would be given more notice, the Inverbrackie site needed to be developed quickly to be suitable to accept detainees from December.
He said that once the initial shock of the announcement passes, the local communities usually welcome the additional benefits to local economies and funding.
"At the end of the day, when the Federal Government's got land there, [the] Federal Government owns it, the Federal Government's got a responsibility to sort out where these people get housed and the Federal Government is paying for any costs that are involved," Mr Bowen said.
"It is our responsibility to make these decisions."
Site changes
The Federal Government has budgeted $10 million for the transformation of the site from a housing estate to a low-security detention facility.
A containment fence would be constructed around the site, with facilities for doctors and nurses also constructed.
Buildings would also be constructed for educational and general usage.
Food and other resources would be trucked into the site.
Mr Bowen assured that although there was a large amount of vacant land around the site, it would not expand past the allocated 400 person accommodation recently announced.