Heads should roll over Ngawha cost blow-out

The cost of the Ngawha prison has more than doubled and is rising every day and it’s time someone was held accountable, says National's Corrections Spokesman Tony Ryall.

"On current projections, Ngawha is costing over $300,000 per prisoner, almost twice the cost of the average family home.

"In the past 3 years the cost has gone from $40 million to $105 million and rising,” says Mr Ryall.

"Cabinet has called for a major examination of cost control on the regional prisons construction programme.

"But that's too late.

“The Department has been warned for two years about cost over-runs and excused them away at every opportunity.

“Heads should roll, this is one of the worst budget blow outs in the public service,” says Mr Ryall.

"It is now time for someone in the Department to accept responsibility for such shocking management.

“Northland needs a prison, but no one ever thought it would be gold-plated!" says Mr Ryall.

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