3 February, 2003
The Department of Corrections has decided to locate the proposed corrections facility's main buildings in approximately the centre of the 187-hectare site at Milburn, near Milton, with access from Narrowdale Road.
National Property Manager William Whewell says that input from site neighbours formed part of this decision.
"The final location is slightly different to 'option 2b' which was one of the two locations the Department recently surveyed neighbours and the community about. Feedback confirmed that there was no clear option that would suit all parties. This location combines the best aspects of all feedback that could be practically incorporated.
"We shifted the access point on Narrowdale Road further away from nearby houses. We also moved the building platform as close to the centre of the site as boundaries and contours of the land allowed, to give more distance from properties on the State Highway side," says Mr Whewell.
"We can maximise the buffer distance around the facility. The platform would also fit well with the natural contours of the site and take advantage of the land being slightly lower at that point, helping screen the prison.
"There's no need to relocate the existing dairy operation and the option works well for its end use of day-to-day prison operation. It is hoped that by locating the buildings in the centre of the site, the community will find it fairer for those who live close-by," he adds.
Deciding where the buildings and road access would go was a key step in the prison project. Mr Whewell says, "We can now focus on developing preliminary design plans and preparing documents to seek planning permission for the corrections facility. Confirming the location of the platform and access road puts us in a better position to work with site neighbours to minimise possible effects like visual or lighting impacts."
Since the Corrections Minister endorsed the site in late November, the Department has been busy investigating options for the building platform and road access. This involved weighing up various considerations and taking into account feedback from site neighbours and the community, construction, design and technical consultants, the Public Prisons Service, Corrections Inmate Employment and Transit New Zealand. Transit New Zealand has advised that, as access to the site can be provided off a side road, direct state highway access will not be sanctioned.
A meeting is planned with neighbours this month to discuss the project's progress. The Department will also be updating the community through its Corrections Communicator newsletter (click here to follow link - PDF: 383KB) , due out later in February.
The proposed Otago Region Corrections Facility's buildings will take up about 10 percent of the actual site.
The new prison is expected to open in 2006, dependent on planning approvals.