Lyons Labor MHA Jen Butler says if her party wins government, it will undertake a "full public consultation process" to identify alternative sites for the prison.

The state Liberal government announced in 2019 that the $270 million prison would be built at the Valley Central Industrial Precinct, about two kilometres from the Westbury town centre. But after community backlash, a new Crown land site on Birralee Road was chosen, a further three kilometres away from the town.

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"The Liberals have failed to progress this important project in the past three years and have only succeeded in dividing the community," Ms Butler said. "No detailed plans have been released and there has been no development application lodged."

"While we are committed to progressing this project in government, we do not support it being built at Westbury or at the new proposed site on Birralee Road.

"It is not feasible that this development go ahead at the site on Birralee Road, chosen by the Liberals without any community consultation, due to the unknown costs associated with that site and the risk to the taxpayer.

"We will be looking at alternative sites following a full public consultation process, with all facts being released to the public before a new site is chosen."

Corrections Minister Elise Archer has said the Northern prison project will create more than 1000 jobs and result in a $500 million economic boost for the state's North.

Ms Archer says the development application for the prison, set to be lodged with the Meander Valley Council later this year, will provide both the council and the community with considerable information about the project.

"The project team is revising the project timeline, but importantly, the project remains on track," she said at the beginning of this month.

The Justice Department is currently undertaking an assessment of the Birralee Road site's natural values, with an environmental consultant conducting investigations at the Brushy Rivulet Crown land.

Lyons Greens candidate Liz Johnstone described the project as "disastrous", pointing to the "host of issues" at the new preferred site.

"Before construction of the prison could even start, kilometres worth of new power lines and new water and sewage infrastructure would need to be built, forest cleared, and massive earthworks would need to be done," she said. "It's a massive cost blowout waiting to happen."

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