Increased Capacity On Christmas Island

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1st December 2009, 07:35pm - Views: 998





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MEDIA RELEASE


108.09

1 December 2009

Increased capacity on Christmas Island


The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is further increasing

accommodation capacity on Christmas Island for irregular maritime arrivals. 


The modifications will increase capacity on Christmas Island to about 1600

beds by mid-December. 


“All immigration facilities are built to allow flexibility for increased

accommodation demands,” a departmental spokesman said today. 


“We have previously said that contingency planning is under way to increase

accommodation on Christmas Island as necessary and this is occurring.


“We recently increased the capacity on the island to almost 1400 by

reconfiguring existing infrastructure into accommodation areas at the

Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre [CIIDC]. 

“Under current arrangements, 1088 people can be accommodated at the

CIIDC. Additional demountables have now been transported to the island to

further expand its capacity by up to 200 beds – these should be in place by

mid-December.” 


To further increase capacity, an additional compound using demountable

buildings is also planned.  This would increase the capacity of the immigration

detention centre by an additional 400 beds. Works on this compound are due

to be completed by March 2010. These works and additional demountable

accommodation in the Phosphate Hill facility, which will be available in early

2010, will bring the detention capacity of the island to about 2200.

Until these new accommodation measures are established, a small number of

tents will also be installed at the IDC as an interim measure. The tents may be

used for accommodation or for recreation and education activities. 


The department will continue to work with key community, government and

industry stakeholders to ensure any accommodation capacity issues are

managed in a timely and sensitive manner.


Media Enquiries: National Communication 02 6264 2244








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