Western Plains Correctional Centre – Chisholm Road Prison 

Comprehensive Access Solutions for Victoria’s Chisholm Road Maximum Security Facility

SIS successfully delivered comprehensive access solutions for the Chisholm Road Prison in Lara. This new state-of-the-art, maximum-security facility accommodates 1,248 prisoners and features the highest levels of security systems and protocols.

SIS was engaged to provide complete access solutions to all prison cells across this extensive project, which was divided among four separate John Holland teams operating across multiple buildings. Team 1 managed 16 MA buildings, Team 2 oversaw 12 MA buildings, Team 3 handled 10 MA buildings, and Team 4 was responsible for 16 MA buildings. This complex operational structure required exceptional coordination and flexibility from the SIS scaffolding and steel divisions to adapt to varying timelines and requirements while maximising available capacities and efficiencies.

A critical aspect of the project was ensuring the continued normal operation of the Queen Victoria Markets. The SIS team worked closely with market authorities to maintain uninterrupted market activities, carefully managing the extensive logistics of delivery vehicles, visitor traffic, and pedestrian flow around the active construction site.

The SIS scaffolding division designed and engineered specialised egress and access solutions throughout the project site. They also developed customised scaffolding systems to support the steel installation requirements. Through innovative design, SIS created multi-purpose scaffold structures that served multiple trades simultaneously, delivering significant cost savings and time efficiencies for the client.

During the pre-planning phase, SIS established two fully operational satellite offices directly on the project site, despite this not being a contractual requirement. This strategic decision proved invaluable for maintaining communication channels and ensuring immediate response capabilities across the expansive regional site. The on-site presence allowed the scaffolding team to make instantaneous adjustments and modifications as needed, enhancing overall project flexibility and responsiveness.

SIS demonstrated remarkable resource mobilisation capabilities, deploying between 50 and 60 team members across various disciplines, including scaffolding, rigging, steel fabrication, plant operation, and transport logistics. Additionally, the company maintained a fully operational on-site office team of up to twelve personnel, including design engineers, project coordinators, construction managers, and support staff. The project was further supported by a comprehensive suite of equipment, including scissor lifts, cranes, boom lifts, generators, and the necessary transport logistics infrastructure.