Media release
Newmarket Business Association
Wednesday 13 May 2008
Business district says latest escape shows prison in wrong location
The very public escape of a prisoner out of Mt Eden Prison and onto Auckland's central streets shows that the Government
should have used the recent opportunity to relocate the prison and have this prime inner city land redeveloped in
accordance to the Auckland Regional Council's growth strategy, says its neighbouring business district.
"No one wants a prison in their neighbourhood, but it seems bizarre that in the centre of New Zealand’s showcase city
members of the public can observe prisoners escaping. I understand the view that Auckland prisoners should be able to
stay in the Auckland region, but does the prison really need to sit on such a prime piece of dirt and border two major
secondary schools," said Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association.
Last week the Government announced a new tower block for the site at the cost of $216 million.
"Commercial interest would have been huge in the site and a great development would have transformed the whole area. The
Corrections Department could have named their price then used the proceeds to relocate to a more appropriate and
sustainable location in Greater Auckland."
Mr Brewer said just a couple of hundred metres from Mt Eden Prison the Lion Brewery site on Khyber Pass Road was last
year sold to AMP Capital Investors for a whopping $162 million to be redeveloped as high-end commercial, residential and
retail development.
"Central Auckland is so short of land and the private sector is under such pressure to intensify. The Auckland Regional
Growth Strategy of 1999 is about quality intensification in key central areas that have good transport links. Given the
Mt Eden Prison's prime location, it would be perfect for commercial intensification. It borders the western railway
line, a brand rail station near Boston Road is about to be built, and of course it's got great access to SH1.
"Instead of people arriving into the country’s commercial capital and seeing a new prison towering above the southern
motorway, they should be welcomed by state of the art offices. To think that this prime site that borders Newmarket and
Eden Terrace is going to keep growing as a prison for many more years is such a lost opportunity for the ongoing
development and intensification of central Auckland," said Mr Brewer.
ENDS