the town revitalised and crime incidents reduced. The 2016-17 Annual Report of Kempsey Shire Council indicated 80% of residents felt safe in their homes and public spaces. Facilities Government buildings such as the council chambers, library and several offices - are located west of the North Coast Railway line in West Kempsey. This area is not subject to the flooding that the CBD occasionally sees and is seen as a second business district with a variety of businesses and banking facilities. Opened in July 2004, the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, a minimum to medium prison for 500 male and female inmates, is located in Aldavilla, approximately west of Kempsey. there are plans to add extra housing for more inmates by 2020. Transport Until a new 14.5 kilometre bypass opened on 27 March 2013, the Pacific Highway passed through Kempsey. The former alignment is now known as the Macleay Valley Way. The new bypass included a 3.2 kilometre Macleay River Bridge, the longest bridge in Australia. Kempsey railway station is located on the North Coast line providing a connection to Sydney and Brisbane. Education Primary schools Kempsey East Public School Kempsey South Public School Kempsey West Public School Kempsey Adventist School Green Hill Public School St Joseph's Primary School High schools Kempsey High School in West Kempsey largely servicing students living north of the Macleay. Melville High School in South Kempsey servicing students living south of the river and in the beachside communities. St Paul's College Kempsey Adventist School in South Kempsey servicing students all around the Macleay. Macleay Vocational College Mid North Coast Correctional Centre provides education equivalent to high school level as a means of rehabilitation and reintegration Notable people Richard James Allen, Australian poet, dancer, filmmaker Jolene Anderson, actress and It Takes Two Series 2 winner Joseph Donovan, Olympic boxer Slim Dusty (David Gordon Kirkpatrick), singer Charles Louis Gabriel, Medical practitioner Silas Gill, Methodist preacher Terry Giddy, Australian Paralympic athlete David Griffin, Paralympic swimmer & gold medallist Greg Inglis, rugby league player Albert Kelly, rugby league player Thomas Keneally, novelist Robin Klein, Australian author Henry Tasman Lovell, Psychologist and educator Amos Morris, singer Andy Patmore, rugby league player. Penelope Plummer, Miss World 1968 Dennis Richardson, Officer of the Order of Australia, former Director-General of Security of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and former Australian ambassador to the United States Amos Roberts, former rugby league footballer James Roberts,