Bunbury Regional Prison has been given a $23.7 million boost for upgrades and expansion.
Corrective Services Minister Fran Logan made the announcement on Sunday at the Bunbury correctional facility.
The WA Government confirmed $23.7 million would be invested in Bunbury Regional Prison for the development of 160 new beds, among the 672 beds to be added across WA’s prison estate by the end of 2019.
Mr Logan said the plan addressed the states issues with overcrowding prisons and provided increased employment opportunities.
"This means that Bunbury will not only get the investment that is very important for the region but means that it now becomes Western Australia's fourth largest prison and a very important piece of the prison infrastructure," he said.
Mr Logan said the states prisoner population had grown by around 10 per cent per annum over the past two years with plans to upgrade existing prisons more financially beneficial than building new facilities.
The proposal, to be funded by Royalties for Regions, includes changes to kitchen, visiting, dining, and reception areas.
The pledge is part of the $120 million proposal for beds and infrastructure upgrades to both Casuarina and Bunbuy prisons and was placed on top of the government’s $636 million in South West capital projects for Bunbury, announced in the 2017/18 state budget.
The minister, along with Member for Bunbury Don Punch MLA, toured the prison by Bunbury Regional Prison superintendent Kerri Bishop.
Construction is expected to create up to 1000 jobs over the next two years, scheduled to commence in early 2018.
