Flaxmere CPS Service Centre

13 April

Corrections announced today that following an extensive search of suitable sites in Flaxmere, Swansea Road remained the most suitable site for a new Community Probation Service Centre.

The service centre is necessary to enable us to manage offenders who already reside in Flaxmere and improve their ability to comply with the requirements of their sentences and orders.

General Manager Community Probation Services Katrina Casey said the Department has been working closely with Hastings City Council staff and management to identify potential alternative locations to the Swansea Road site.

“The Department has given a great deal of focus to this issue since 1 February 2010 and a large amount of time and effort have put into the process. However, despite our genuine desire to find an alternative location no other site meets our needs.”

Ms Casey said a total of eight sites were identified for consideration as possible alternatives to Swansea Road.

Ms Casey said two meetings with Council were held to identify suitable alternative sites within an approved radius. From an original list of six sites three were shortlisted for further investigation.

Of the three sites shortlisted, one was not for sale, the land value for one was prohibitive and it also required further expenditure on an upgrade or demolition plus extensive site works and also posed potential environmental concerns/hazards.

While the third site investigated was on Council owned land, site constraints meant the service centre would have to be situated in a very narrow section, which placed limits on the building’s use. Time and cost factors in preparing the site were also a factor as were significant noise levels.

In addition to these properties Corrections staff also identified two other possible sites and also investigated the possibility of a co-location option in Flaxmere, but this had to be discounted as the agency required the space for themselves.

“Of the eight alternate properties reviewed, two were unavailable for purchase, two were outside the agreed area for location, with the remaining four deemed unsuitable.” 

After carefully considering all these options, 8 Swansea Road is left as the preferred location and the Department has decided to progress with developing the service centre at this site.”

Ms Casey said that Corrections appreciated the decision may not be everyone’s desired outcome. The Department will do everything possible to be able to continue working productively with the Flaxmere community.

For further information contact the Communications Services Desk:

Phone: (04) 460 3365
Email: commdesk@corrections.govt.nz