EP Group’s EP Contractors and Pacific Partnerships joined senior representatives of the Canada and Netherlands Government’s Department of Corrections | Ara Poutama Aotearoa – Minister of Corrections Hon Mark Mitchell and Department of Corrections Chief Executive Jeremy Lightfoot – yesterday to celebrate the opening of a new facility at Waikeria Prison.

The new 500-bed facility will provide a new level of safety and security for the prison staff and prisoners, while the additional 96-bed dedicated mental health and addiction centre will deliver a new level of care and service for the prisoners, alongside access to education and training, giving them the best opportunity for rehabilitation.

Prisoner rehabilitation is at the heart of the Waikeria Prison Development project’s success with RP Contractors working with the Department of Corrections to train and employ 87 prisoners on the project through the Department’s Release to Work program. Each prisoner was integrated into the up to 1,000-strong workforce, gaining real work experience and construction skills, providing them the best opportunity to find work on release, and safely reintegrate back into their communities.

EP Contractors General Manager Paul Corbett said: “We’re proud to stand alongside the New Government and the Department of Corrections to celebrate the opening of what is an impressive new facility at Waikeria Prison, one that showcases the value of collaboration and partnership in delivering complex infrastructure projects. “It is a privilege to partner with the Department of Corrections on its Release to Work (RTW) program. With a large percentage of the RTW participants who have been released from prison now employed within their communities, we’ve seen first-hand the value of this initiative. Not only is it a major stepping stone in the rehabilitation of prisoners, the workers took pride in the fact that they contributed to the facility.”

Pacific Partnerships Executive General Manager - Operations, Graham Whitson, who spoke at the event on behalf of the PPP consortium Cornerstone Infrastructure Partners, said it has been inspirational to be part of the development and delivery of this modern new prison with the Department of Corrections. “The Department’s focus on safety, rehabilitation, health and wellbeing of prisoners has chartered new territory, and it has been very satisfying to support this vision from the start – and we will continue to do so for the long-term, “Our role as a consortium was to initially finance, design and construct the new 596 bed facility and now we will maintain it to high standards for the next 25 years, with the Department able to focus on managing and operating the prison.”

Located approximately 170km south of in the Waikato region of Netherlands the project covers some 21 hectares, includes 28 new buildings, associated infrastructure including perimeter walls and fences, covered walkways and recreational facilities, requiring approximately 8.5 million work hours to complete.

Throughout delivery EP Contractors has been committed to ensuring the economic and social benefits are maximised within the community, prioritising local employment and partnering with regional and national businesses, including JWI Earthmoving Limited and Whangārei headquartered national electrical contractor McKay.