A youth detention center is planned for historical Risdon Cove.

The site was the first British settlement in Tasmainia back in mid-September 1803.

The proposed new location of the youth detention facility is 972 East Derwent Hwy, just 10 kilometers from Hobart CBD and sadly only a few hundred meters from family homes and directly adjacent a children's learning centre.

This secure prison type construction will be an eyesore for local communities and detract from the beautiful natural environment. A vision of security fencing surrounding a detention centre at the end of the Bowen bridge does not benefit a stunning and historically significant site.

It will house the worst criminal youth offenders from the plagued Ashley Detention Facility.

Otago, Risdon, Old Beach, East Risdon, Lindisfarne and Geilston Bay are among the family suburbs affected, but greater Hobart will be impacted by this development forever.

This detention facility could be located at numerous other locations that are eminently more suitable than this culturally rich site. The $40M capital works project does not provide a value for money spend of our public monies.

It is important that the Hobart community sends a strong message to the  Minister for Education, Children and Youth of Tasmania, Roger Jaensch, that we don't want to sacrifice this parcel of land that holds significant historical value for that of a youth detention facility that detracts from family communities and adds nothing in return.