Prison opponents vow to keep fighting despite Labor's election defear

The Liberals achieved a 0.5 per cent swing overall in Lyons, but in Westbury, there was a 7.1 per cent swing to Labor according to election analyst Kevin Bonham.

But he described this result as fairly insignificant, and that "the government was able to reduce the damage there".

Even so, locals opposed to the prison at Brushy Rivulet say it gives them hope that the community would continue to lobby the government to find a different location.

Westbury Region Against the Prison president Linda Poulton said the group had campaigned strongly in the lead-up to the election, including leafleting the town calling on residents to "put the Liberals last" and standing 100 metres from polling booths with signs.

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She said their attention would again turn back towards Meander Valley Council over the matter.

"Westbury bucked the trend in Lyons," Ms Poulton said.

"We're taking some positives out of this even though an outcome the other way would have put an end to our nightmare.

"(Clark independent) Kirstie Johnston opposed the prison as well, so there's some hope there."

Two Meander Valley councillors - Susie Bower and Stephanie Cameron - were unsuccessful Liberal candidates for Lyons.

The government plans to have a development application before the council by the end of this year, and has promised not to use major projects legislation to rush it through.

Due diligence on the site - including core test drilling - was planned to start in October last year but was delayed. The government's environmental consultant also stood down from the project and has been replaced.

The government plans to have these works finished in spring, but prison opponents hope this occurs outside of the wedge-tailed eagle breeding season.

The two-stage Northern Regional Prison will ultimately accommodate up to 270 prisoners.