$11 million for landscaping at prisons
Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman
17 April 2006
$11 million for landscaping at prisons
National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power, says he is astounded that landscaping at New Zealand's four newest prisons will be more than $11 million.
He has released figures from Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor which show that estimated landscaping costs at the prisons are:
* Spring
Hill (Waikato): $4.34 million.
* Northland (Ngawha):
$1.56 million.
* Auckland Women's: $1.98 million.
* Otago Region: $3.3 million.
"I realise that some of the sites have to meet visual stipulations under the consent agreements to satisfy the local community, but that is a lot of plants, design work, planting, topsoil, pavement and bark.
"And when you take into account that at three of the sites, prison labour made or will make 'a significant contribution' to the landscaping work, including providing seedling stock, you have to wonder how much higher those costs could have been.
"I also note there is no mention of consents in the answer for Spring Hill. Does this mean none were required, in which case why did they spend so much and where did that $4.3 million go? No wonder there is a constructions budget blowout of $490 million.
"We are not meant to be creating outdoor works of art or serene walks around these prisons. These are meant to be places where inmates are reminded every day of why they are there. Taxpayers need to be assured they are not funding an entry for the Ellerslie Flower Show.
"Under this Government, which has been caught taking prisoners to the beach, letting them watch R-rated movies, and giving them ice cream and steak for dinner, it just becomes easier and easier for prisoners. Now they are making sure they have a pleasant outlook as well."
Attachments: Answers to WQ 2860/01/02/03
> From:
qwawf
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 3:44:40 PM
> To:
Jemma Montagu
> Cc: Simon Power; Jemma Montagu
>
Subject: 02860 (2006) Published - Corrections - Normal Reply
>
Question: What is the estimated final cost of
landscaping at the Spring
Hill Corrections Facility site,
and what specific types of landscaping
does this
entail?
Portfolio: Corrections
Minister: Hon Damien
O'Connor
Date Lodged:28/03/2006
Answer Text: The Spring
Hill Corrections Facility will occupy a
215-hectare site,
which includes an area inside the secure perimeter of 22
hectares. The final landscaping cost is estimated at $4.345
million (GST exclusive). This covers the supply of plants
and seedlings, site preparation, planting of trees and
shrubs, topsoil supply and placement, establishment of grass
areas, Puna landscaping, fencing, paving and provision of
maintenance services through to the commissioning stage.
Corrections Inmate Employment is making a significant
contribution to landscaping work including the supply of
seedling stock.
Attachment: None
Date
Received:11/04/2006
>
-------------------------------------------
> From:
qwawf
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 3:44:40 PM
> To:
Jemma Montagu
> Cc: Simon Power; Jemma Montagu
>
Subject: 02861 (2006) Published - Corrections - Normal Reply
>
Question: What is the estimated final cost of
landscaping at the Northland Region Corrections Facility
site, and what specific types of landscaping does this
entail?
Portfolio: Corrections
Minister: Hon Damien
O'Connor
Date Lodged:28/03/2006
Answer Text: The
Northland Region Corrections Facility occupies
a
190-hectare site, which includes an area inside the
secure perimeter of 16 hectares. The final landscaping cost
is $1.56million (GST exclusive), and provides initial screen
planting, the supply of plants and seedlings, site
preparation, planting of trees and shrubs, design and
planting at the front entrance to the site, topsoil supply
and placement, pavement, establishment of grass areas, and
provision of maintenance services through to the
commissioning stage.
Landscaping is required to meet visual stipulations mitigation under the consent agreements and to satisfy the local community. The Northland region Corrections Facility came into service in March 2005.
Attachment: None
Date
Received:11/04/2006
From: qwawf
> Sent: Tuesday, April
11, 2006 3:44:41 PM
> To: Jemma Montagu
> Cc: Simon
Power; Jemma Montagu
> Subject: 02862 (2006) Published -
Corrections - Normal Reply
>
Question: What is the
estimated final cost of landscaping at the Auckland Region
Women's Corrections Facility site, and what specific types
of landscaping does this entail?
Portfolio:
Corrections
Minister: Hon Damien O'Connor
Date
Lodged:28/03/2006
Answer Text: The Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility will occupy a 47-hectare site, which includes an area inside the secure perimeter of 12 hectares.
The final landscaping cost is estimated at $1.984 million (GST exclusive), and provides the supply of plants and seedlings, topsoil supply and placement, establishment of grass areas, screen planting, paving, landscaping advice and remedial planting to meet consent agreements. Corrections Inmate Employment has made a significant contribution to landscaping work including the supply of seedling stock.
Attachment: None
Date
Received:11/04/2006
-------------------------------------------
>
From: qwawf
> Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 3:44:41
PM
> To: Jemma Montagu
> Cc: Simon Power; Jemma
Montagu
> Subject: 02863 (2006) Published - Corrections -
Normal Reply
>
Question: What is the estimated final
cost of landscaping at the Otago
Region Women's
Corrections Facility site, and what specific types
of
landscaping does this entail?
Portfolio:
Corrections
Minister: Hon Damien O'Connor
Date
Lodged:28/03/2006
Answer Text: There are currently no
plans for an Otago Region Women’s
Corrections Facility.
If the Member is referring to the Otago
Region
Corrections Facility, which is a 330 bed male only
facility, the final
estimated cost of landscaping at the
facility is $2.07million (GST
exclusive) for landscaping
the secure area and $1.23million (GST
exclusive) for
shelter belt planting and external fencing.
The
Otago
Region Corrections Facility occupies a 187-hectare
site, which includes an area inside the secure perimeter of
15 hectares. Corrections Inmate Employment will contribute
to landscaping work including the supply of seedling stock.
Landscaping is required to meet visual stipulation
mitigation under the consent agreements and to satisfy the
local community.
Attachment: None
Date
Received:11/04/2006
ENDS