KEY POINTS:
Mt Eden jail could become a mega-prison as the chief executive of Corrections warns growth in the prison population is continuing to exceed predictions, and an extra 1000 beds would be needed by 2014.
Yesterday in the Law and Order select committee, Corrections boss Barry Matthews said unless there was a change to reduce prisoner numbers, Mt Eden could be enlarged to help swallow up expected increases in prisoners - for which up to 1000 new cells are expected to be needed by 2014.
Mr Matthews said the "soaring" prison population was putting extra strain on facilities and staff, "but as fast as we build new cells they are filled, and we are now faced with building more prisons unless there is a change in policy settings".
The current "muster" was about 8200 prisoners and estimates were for an extra 964 beds by 2014, but Mr Matthews said he was expecting a newer estimate which would "markedly increase" that number.
"The indications are that growth will continue and we will need to construct more cells."
Corrections has built four new prisons in recent years - Northland Region Corrections Facility, Auckland Women's, Spring Hill and Otago - to house an extra 1600 prisoners.
The extra building and operating costs have seen the cost per prison per day increase from $156.10 in 2002-03 to $210 in the last financial year.
Mr Matthews acknowledged refurbishments of old prisons and building new cells would boost that cost up further.
The Corrections Department said the best option for the longer term was for two more eight-storey tower blocks and one six-storey block.
National property manager William Whewell said draft plans were lodged with the Auckland City Council in June and final plans would be presented this month. However, final designs for the long-term options could be some years away.
National corrections spokesman Simon Power said Mr Matthews had "finally admitteed it has a severe muster crisis on its hands". He said the Labour government had not planned properly and its new "effective interventions" policies were failing.
The Government has just introduced its "effective interventions" programme - a raft of measures designed to lower the numbers going to prison, including new sentences such as home detention and community service.
Mr Matthews said while such "community-based" sentences would slow the rate of growth it was never expected "effective interventions on its own would reverse the increasing numbers of prisoners".
Mr Matthews said other old prisons were also up for replacement, including Wellington Prison, the old wings of Waikeria, and New Plymouth Prison.
In all, more than half of the prison stock is due for refurbishment or replacement by 2014, which the department has estimated will cost $1.2 billion.
JAIL PLANS
* Future possible developments of Mt Eden Prison include up to three eight-storey towers and two six-storey towers alongside existing buildings.
* Site plans include two new cell blocks to house 450 prisoners and replace the current prison, which will be renovated for administration and staff use.
* The costs are unknown, and although approval and funding has yet to be given, it is hoped the first stage will be in place by 2011.
