Australia mouse plague: Prisoners, staff moved from Wellington Correctional Centre

Vast tracts of land in New South Wales are being threatened by a mouse plague. Photo / AP

At least 420 inmates and 200 staff at a NSW prison will be moved to other facilities in the next week, as the state's mice plague continues to wreak havoc.

Corrective Services NSW Commissioner Peter Severin said the step needed to be taken to ensure Wellington Correctional Centre was "thoroughly cleaned" and infrastructure could be repaired.

The mice have caused damage to internal wiring and ceiling panels.

The mice have caused damage to wiring and ceiling panels at the prison. Photo / Supplied

"The health, safety and wellbeing of staff and inmates is our number one priority, so it's important for us to act now to carry out the vital remediation work," Mr Severin said.

"The staff at Wellington have done an incredibly good job in managing the effects of the mice plague, but we need to take this step now.

"I thank the team at Wellington for their ongoing commitment to their work during this challenging time.

Most staff will be redeployed to other correctional centres in the western region, while a skeleton crew will remain at Wellington to oversee and assist with remediation work.

The 420 male and female inmates will be transferred to other prisons in the next 10 days. Some inmates will return to Wellington during the day to work.

Up to 200 staff and 420 inmates at Wellington Correctional Centre will be relocated to other prisons. Photo / Supplied

Part of the remediation work will allow investigations into how the centre can be protected from future mice plagues.

Vast tracts of land in New South Wales are being threatened by a mouse plague that the state government describes as "absolutely unprecedented." Just how many millions of rodents have infested the agricultural plains across the state is guesswork.