CSC0013/04 CABINET COVER SHEET TITLE: DEPARTMENT FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS - IDENTIFICATION OF FUTURE SITE(S) MINISTER: Hon Terry Roberts MLC Minister for Correctional Services PURPOSE: To seek Cabinet's approval for potential site(s) for future Department for Correctional Services infrastructure requirements and approval to undertake due diligence on the preferred site(s). RELATIONSHIP TO Government has provided funding in the current GOVERNMENT POLICY: financial year to undertake a business case of the future infrastructure needs of Correctional Services. Cabinet on 25/09/2003 gave approval for the investigation of potential site(s) for a New Women's Prison and New Youth Detention Centre. On 31/05/2004 Cabinet approved the revised parameters and approach for the development of the project which will be progressed under the Project Initiation Policy. Co-locating or separating the Youth Detention Centre from the Women's Prison will be one option to be considered within existing budget allocations. RESOURCES REQUIRED The Government has provided sufficient resources FOR IMPLEMENTATION: to carry out the business case to establish the future infrastructure requirements of DCS. A Draft Business Case suggested that future development would be necessary, in which case a suitable site will need to be identified and secured while still available. At completion of the process, should Cabinet approve a site(s), funding would be required for procurement. It is anticipated that funding will be required in 2005/06. Should there be an option to procure a site earlier, funding will be required during 2004/05. The Department of Treasury and Finance have agreed with the resource calculations. 6. COMMUNITY, FAMILY, 1. Appropriate community consultation will be SMALL BUSINESS, required to outline the benefits of any future REGIONAL AND project and to support the site selection ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: process. 2. Should there be future development, there will be a significant positive economic impact on the local economy (through local employment and l CSC0013/04 a buy local policy) and the environmental impact will be minimal. 3. Localised community opposition may be anticipated due to perceived impact on property values. 4. A site appropriately located with a facility that enables prisoners to have access to a range of rehabilitation programs is a key step towards a safer and more just community. The capacity to maintain families and support the children of prisoners will be increased. 7. RISKS: 1. Site risks will be fully assessed as part of the due diligence process. 2. Strict confidentiality about site exploration has been maintained to this stage. 3. Community opposition can be anticipated at all possible sites. 4. Anticipated public reaction to the consideration of a Youth Detention Centre's proximity to any new prison infrastructure (if approved by Government) can be expected. 8. CONSULTATION: Major Projects and Infrastructure Cabinet Committee; the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF); the Office for Infrastructure and Development; the Land Management Corporation and Department for Families and Communities. Preliminary confidential consultation has occurred with some Local Councils to identify possible sites as per a previous Cabinet's determination. Further consultation with council(s) and the community will be required. 9. COMMUNICATION A comprehensive and transparent communication STRATEGY: strategy will be developed and implemented following approval of preferred site(s). 10. URGENCY: Submitted as per the 10 day rule. 11. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that Cabinet: 4.1 Review the nine potential sites for future prison infrastructure and advise which sites are to be subjected to further due diligence (at an estimated cost of $11,000 per site). These being: 4.1.1 Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)- South; 4.1.2 DSTO-North; 4.1.3 Evanston South, West of Main North Road; 2 CSC0013/04 4.1.4 Evanston South. East of Main North Road; 4.1.5 Bolivar; 4.1.6 Penfield; 4.1.7 Gepps Cross (former Abattoirs site); 4.1.8 Seaford Heights; and 4.1.9 Aldinga North. 4.2 Note that further evaluation will include consultation with local government and the community, and technical due diligence investigations; 4.3 Note that a project plan and communication strategy for the site acquisition process will be prepared and approved by the Minister for Correctional Services prior to implementation; 4.4 Note that on completion of the process, (should Cabinet approve a site(s)) funding will be required to purchase a site in 2005/06 or if it presents as an option in 2004/05. Cost estimated before the due diligence process to be in the order of $6M. 4.5 Approval for DCS to include in its search a site that would be suitable for a future New Men's Prison. 4.6 Note that consistent with a previous Cabinet direction the option of co-locating future prisons with a new Youth Detention Centre will be considered as an option. I declare that I have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to the proposals contained in this submission Hon Terry Roberts MLC Minister for Correctional Services 4J/09/04 3 CSC0013/04 TO: PREMIER FOR CABINET RE: DEPARTMENT FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (DCS) FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS - IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE SITE(S) 1 PROPOSALS To request Cabinet to: 1.1 Review the nine potential sites for future new prison infrastructure and advise which sites should be subjected to further due diligence. These sites are: 1.1.1 Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) South; 1.1.2 Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) North; 1.1.3 Evanston South, west of Main North Road; 1.1.4 Evanston South, east of Main North Road; 1.1.5 Bolivar; 1.1.6 Penfield; 1.1.7 Gepps Cross (former Abattoirs site); 1.1.8 Seaford Heights; and 1.1.9 Aldinga North. 1.2 Approve further evaluation of the selected site(s) at an estimated cost of $11,000 per site; 1.3 Note that further evaluation would include consultation with local government, community consultation, and technical due diligence investigations; 1.4 Note that a project plan and communication strategy for the site acquisition process will be prepared and approved by the Minister for Correctional Services prior to implementation; and 1.5 Note that on completion of the process, should Cabinet approve a site(s) funding will be required to purchase the approved site in 2005/06. 1.6 To seek authorisation to include a site for a future New Men's Prison in DCS's search. 1.7 To seek clarification in relation to a site for a future New Youth Detention Centre (YDC) if it is to continue to be included in the land search or if the future YDC and New Women's Prison are to be de-linked. 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 The current Adelaide Women's Prison is located on a 30 ha site at Walkley Heights, north of Grand Junction Road and west of Walkleys Road. The prison accommodates approximately 80 prisoners and detainees in a mixture of secure and low-risk buildings. Apart from two self-contained units each Page 1 of 12 CSC0013/04 accommodating 5 low-risk prisoners, the overall condition of the facilities is substandard by reasonable measures and unsuitable for effective, humane supervision of prisoners. 2.2 In 2001 a decision was made by the former Government for a New Women's Prison (NWP), capable of accommodating 120 persons with future expansion opportunity, to be investigated as a possible Public Private Partnership (PPP). 2.3 The PPP evaluation for a NWP was progressed by the current Government. 2.4 DCS has also been developing a proposal for a number of years to rationalise prison facilities for men. The investigations culminated in a budget submission being prepared which sought $700,000 in 2004/05 to enable DCS to undertake the preparation of further investigations and to develop a business case for a New Men's Prison to replace Yatala Labour Prison. It is anticipated that these investigations will be completed in the 04/05 financial year. 2.5 Subsequently, a decision was taken to bundle the NWP project with proposed requirements for a new Youth Detention Centre (YDC) development to maximise capital and operating cost efficiencies by locating the two facilities in reasonable proximity or possibly adjacent on the one site. 2.6 Original planning for the PPP proceeded on the basis that both the NWP and the integrated YDC facilities would be located on surplus Oakden land, including the vacant land created by the progressive decommissioning of Strathmont Centre. The proposal was for the site to be cleared of all existing building assets and made available to the developer/operator as a greenfield site. 2.7 Considerable adverse public comment, against the Oakden site being used for the NWP and YDC occurred at that time and the Government directed that a full range of sites be explored. 2.8 Cabinet on 25/09/2003 gave approval for the investigation of potential site(s) for a NWP and YDC. 2.9 On 31/05/2004 Cabinet approved the revised parameters and approach for the development of the project which will be progressed under the Project Initiation Policy. Separating the YDC from the NWP will be one option to be considered within existing budget allocations. 2.10 Subsequently discussions have identified that the Department for Families and Communities are reconsidering their options and are unlikely to be able meet the DCS planing schedule. 2.11 Consequently site investigation has progressed giving consideration to the possible location of a NWP and or a New Men's Prison. Co-locating the proposed two new prisons will enable sharing of prison facilities, which will lead to capital and operating cost savings far in excess of the savings, which may be achieved by collocating the NWP and YDC.