2 September, 2002
The Department of Corrections now owns the site being proposed for the new Otago Region Corrections Facility.
The purchase reflects the Department's commitment to the project and the strong development potential of the site, says National Property Manager William Whewell.
The Department has bought the 187 hectare site, which is 35 minutes south of Dunedin by car and a few kilometres away from Milton. It is bordered by State Highway One, Narrowdale Road and Back Road and is currently run as a dairy farm.
Mr Whewell says the site scores highly and it was necessary to ensure its continued availability to the Department.
"The site meets our requirements in terms of factors such as access and size, and there are no technical or environmental barriers. As a result, a lot of effort is going into fully investigating its overall suitability and consulting with the community. Developing a new prison can take several years, well outside an acceptable timeframe to hold a conditional contract and a right to purchase."
Mr Whewell said the focus of community consultation has been a two-way exchange of information. "We are hearing how people think the proposed facility will affect them and taking their comments on board. At the same time we're explaining what a modern corrections facility is really like. This helps us identify what the community feels are potential effects of a corrections facility at Milburn so we can develop measures to avoid or reduce those effects. Consultation is ongoing and we will continue to be in the area and available to meet with individuals or groups."
October marks the next stage in the project, when Corrections Minister Mark Gosche agrees whether to proceed with a prison on the site. The Department is currently collating a vast array of information for the Minister's consideration. This includes the findings of geotechnical investigations and the results of public consultation to date. The Minister will also consider reports on the environmental effects of a corrections facility at Millburn. These reports look at potential noise, traffic, visual/landscape, archaeological and ecological effects.
If the Minister finds in favour of developing the corrections facility at Milburn, he will then seek to designate it by lodging a Notice of Requirement with the Clutha District Council. Designation is a formal process to allow a site to be used for a particular purpose, which in this case would be 'prison purposes'.
Mr Whewell says there will be opportunity for the community to participate in the designation process through submissions and hearings.
The settlement date to purchase the site was 1 September 2002, which follows an unconditional contract held by the Department since 31 July. The site cost $4,285,753 (including GST) and this figure includes the land, buildings and associated dairy company shares.