Welcome to Victoria's $100m jail: With gym, tennis courts, bakery

Prisoners housed in the new $100 million taxpayer-funded prison near Geelong will be able to have a hit on the tennis court, retreat to their heated rooms and enjoy a lamb roast at night.

Victoria’s newest medium security prison Kareenga will open on Saturday, housing more than 200 inmates.

“[The rooms] do have heaters, they do have cooking facilities and that’s because they have to cook their own meals,” Corrections Minister Steve Herbert said.

“I thought it would be a good thing we don’t have huge catered kitchens with people sitting down to catered meals.”

Inmates will bake meat pies and fresh bread each morning, in a bid to teach the prisoners skills they can take into the workforce when they are released.

“People will leave here and get a job in the newest bakeries across Melbourne,” Mr Herbert said.

Mr Herbert said while there’s plenty of incentives for prisoners, the jail has been fitted with top security.

“There’s three layers of security, then there’s also a lighting system as an alarm goes off,” Mr Herbert said.