Prisoners help with sandbagging in Riverland

Prisoners will be filling sandbags from within the Cadell Training Centre to assist with flood preparations in South Australia’s Riverland. 

General manager for the Cadell Training Centre David Lodge said the inmates involved in the local Country Fire Service (CFS) were also helping with flood relief outside the facility.

The sandbagging assistance for shack owners in Swan Reach, Morgan and Cadell has already commenced.

“It was the prisoners themselves actually wanting to do their bit. They see the news, they listen to the radio,” Mr Lodge said.

“We’ve got the CFS that go out to call-outs, we’ve got the community work guys that go out to call-outs, they see what’s happening on the river and they want to be involved.

“I talked to the Mid Murray Council and they jumped on board with us helping, so it’s been a fantastic opportunity for the guys and they’ve grown.”

Mr Lodge said the inmates who were not permitted to leave the premises also wanted to help. 

“We’re actually setting up sandbags here at Cadell Training Centre so they can fill the sandbags and take them back out to the community where they’re needed,” he said.

“So the whole of Cadell Training Centre is getting onboard with this.”

No risk to the public

The centre is a low-security prison and inmates assisting with flood efforts pose no risk to the community, Mr Lodge says.

“The guys are the most-trusted guys we’ve got.,” he said.

“To get to Cadell Training Centre in the first place, they’ve got to earn the right to get to a place like this.

“It’s through good behaviour throughout their whole prison time.”

Mr Lodge said the prisoners were towards the end of their sentences.

“They’re doing programs and whatever they can with education to better their chance of going out and being a meaningful part of the community,” he said.

“They’re very low risk of reoffending.

“There’s no risk of them absconding whatsoever.”