Corrections has confirmed with the Government a final capital cost of just under $890 million dollars for the new facilities building project.
The new facilities are part of a substantial construction programme involving the extension of existing facilities, and four new sites.
In total, the four new corrections facilities will add over 1600 beds to the prison system. The first of the four, the Northland Region Corrections Facility, successfully opened in March 2005. The Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility, the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, and the Otago Region Corrections Facility are currently under construction.
Corrections has confirmed a construction timetable to see construction completed by mid 2007.
Chief Executive Barry Matthews says that last year alone, over 700 additional prison beds were provided on time and on budget.
“The new facilities are designed, constructed, and operated to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders back into the community. They are targeted at reducing reoffending and making communities safer,” says Barry.
“The construction programme is necessary to meet the demands of rising prisoner numbers, and progress Corrections’ overall goal of reducing the rate of reoffending and successfully reintegrating offenders back into the community.”
Prisons need to be safe and secure and as a result are inevitably expensive, he says.
“The last few years have seen a construction industry boom and I am pleased with the way Corrections has operated in this challenging environment. Corrections is a prudent user of taxpayer money and has fully investigated measures to ensure the taxpayer gets value for money.”
“I am sure that the review by the State Services Commission and Treasury will provide valuable insights moving forward.”
“It has been necessary to include an adjustment to capital costs to reflect pressures that could not be foreseen when the project began several years ago. This is one of the country’s largest construction projects and it would be unrealistic not to expect movement in the budget given the current construction industry boom.”
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ISSN 1178-8453