Corrections' trail of incompetence
Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman
9 March 2005
Corrections' trail of incompetence
A report on the planning and building of New Zealand's four newest prisons reveals an astounding trail of incompetence and mismanagement by the Corrections Department, says National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power.
He is commenting on the Progress Report on Regional Prisons Development Project, released under the Official Information Act.
"There is some astounding material in this document. It confirms what National has been saying for ages - that the prisons construction budget blowout has been caused by incompetence and mismanagement."
The report, dated 15 December 2005, reveals:
· Design miscalculations: 'The rates used
in the calculation of escalation were national figures
across all construction types. It is now evident that prison
developments are atypical, and, for example, use far more
steel fabrication than a similar commercial
building.'
* Cost miscalculations: At Auckland Women's
Prison, cost increases were caused partly by '... compliance
cost associated with changes to the Building Code ($0.3
million) and the Holidays Act ($0.5 million) ...'. At
Springhill: 'Compliance with the Building Act ... impacts
construction of all timber fabrications at over $1000 per
cell and redesign, labour, programme and preliminary and
general costs.'
· The department considered
deferring or delaying the building of Springhill because of
cost overruns. The report details four options, but none
were used because revised muster forecasts 'do not provide
sufficient space for ... delaying (or staging) the opening
of SHCF.'
· That maintenance at other prisons is
threatened by the cost over-runs: '... the opportunity cost
of funding these cost increases off the Department's balance
sheet is that this cash will not be available for other
fiscal risk, such as Mt Eden.'
"This is incompetence of the highest order," says Mr Power. "To be building and running prisons and not be aware that they have to be built stronger than other buildings is absolutely astounding.
"And then to be prepared to run up the white flag and actually consider stopping construction of a much-needed prison just because you couldn't get your figures right in the first place is a very sad indictment on management.
"The inquiry into the constructions budget blowout may as well stop right now. We know where the problem lies - with prisons management and the Minister who oversees the whole thing. This is appalling."
ENDS