Despite the Meander Valley mayor Wayne Johnston saying the majority of residents at Westbury were against the proposed prison site, some residents believe it's "too good an opportunity to pass up" for the town.
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The Examiner spoke to residents in support of the preferred site at Westbury who cited the future benefits for the town's youth, employment and economy from the project.
The $270-million Northern Regional Prison project's preferred site is at 135 Birralee Road, adjacent to the industrial precinct.
A group of residents in favour are speaking up and Robert Anderson, who has been a resident for 14 years, is one.
He said when he first heard about the prison he did not want it but he soon found the positives outweighed the nay-saying.
"I think it's too good an opportunity to pass up," he said.
"I can't think of any logical reason why it wouldn't happen, there's so much upside to it ... look at the dollars that are on the table for this, we're talking maybe in excess of $300 million.
"There has been so many businesses here in the last 40 years that have just closed down, it's the perfect opportunity to turn that trend around [and] it would be an absolute tragedy to miss out on this."
Mr Anderson said the language used by some against the proposal was disappointing and had caused unnecessary angst.
The opposition's main concerns are the impact on tourism, property prices, safety and the closeness of the site to the town centre.
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Resident Grace Rock has lived in the town for nine years. She reiterated the proposed prison site was separated from the town by a four-lane highway.
"The people who are trying to find work [in the prison], they tend to want to live near work, so I think there will be a huge demand for properties and demand drives the prices up," she said.
She said more compassion was needed for prisoners from the North, whose families have to travel hours to Risdon Prison Complex.
The Northern Tasmania Development Corporation has claimed stage one of the project would provide 733 jobs, before employing 250 people once operational, and deliver about $160-million to the municipality in five years.
Signs supporting the site have popped up reading 'just build it' and stickers reading 'prison for Westbury'.
Resident for 30 years, Leigh Watts said the main reason he supported the prison was for the town's future.
"This project is certainly going to go a long way to bringing some employment here for the youth," he said.
"My times nearly up as far as work goes but we don't have enough provisions for employment for youth.
"We have a low unemployment rate in Westbury but our average age is 50-55.
"Our youth have always got to leave our town to go to Launceston or overseas or wherever to gain employment."
The proposed prison is planned to be built in two stages, with the first stage to be completed in five years to house 140 prisoners. Before it's planned to be fully operation within 10 years and able to house 270 inmates.
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