The Northern Territory Government has announced Darwin developer Halikos will build the new $55.1 million Don Dale youth detention centre, with construction to commence before the end of the month and finish in 2022.
The NT Government also announced a $13.1 million redevelopment of the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre was expected to start by the end of July.
An NT Government press release said the developments "are major construction projects that will create local jobs, support local business and boost the economy".
"The Territory Labor Government is doing everything it can to save jobs and support Territory business, especially through these difficult times," the release said.
"Our tradies now have a massive pipeline of work through our various stimulus programs, and these additional construction projects will further boost the economy."
"Once completed, the centres will be places that give young offenders the best chance to turn their lives around and stop offending."
The NT Government has been criticised for its decision in 2019 to build the new youth detention facility, named the Darwin Youth Justice Centre, 300 metres from Darwin's adult prison at Holtze.
The Government's decision came despite the 2016 youth detention royal commission saying Don Dale's replacement site "should not be located on, or in close proximity to, adult prison precincts".
Thursday's press release from Territory Families said the new facility did satisfy the royal commission's recommendation to replace the existing Don Dale facility.
"Replacing the existing Don Dale Youth Detention Centre with a new purpose-built Youth Justice Centre is a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the NT," the NT Government said.
The NT Government said the detention centre will be built at a greenfield site "located close to police, emergency services and health services".
The NT Government has conceded the site at Holtze was not its ideal choice after considering seven other sites but fierce backlash from business owners and residents forced it to abandon its preferred site at Pinelands.
But Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield has said she "would not apologise … for listening to the community" after announcing the new facility would be built at the adult prison.
Asbuild NT was awarded the $13.1 million construction contract for the redevelopment of the Alice Springs youth detention centre.
The NT Government said, "the scope of works will include new program delivery spaces for service providers to deliver crucial programs, new medical and health area, advanced security including perimeter monitoring through CCTV, new recreation field to engage young people in sports, and redeveloped accommodation areas."
