Inmates deemed low-risk have been selected for the program, which has already repaired hundreds of meters of damaged or faulty fence lines at a farm north of Wellington.

The work forms part of the 580 hours the inmates spend on average each month conducting garbage clean-ups and maintenance and grounds-keeping at the Geurie showgrounds and Wellington’s churches. 

“This program serves many terrific purposes for both the farmers and the inmates,” said Troy Grant MP.

“For the property owners, it reduces some of their essential maintenance costs at a time where things are at their toughest and it allows them to focus on other things to help their farms.”

But the program will also indirectly benefit the inmates doing the work, by providing them with an outlet to help repay their debt to the community.

“For the inmates at Wellington, it helps with their rehabilitation and gives them a sense of doing something positive and contributing to society. 

That can only help when these people get released back into the community.”

Community Projects Senior Overseer Tim Parker said the work would provide inmates with skills that will translate to life after incarceration. 

“Helping with repairs or maintenance work not only has a really positive impact at the local level, it means these inmates have a better chance of finding a job when they return to the community,” Mr Parker said.

This year, the team has also designed and built a replacement for a picnic shelter at the Mount Arthur reserve that had fallen into disrepair.