Expanding capacity at Otago's new prison will not be limited to installing new beds or containers and is likely to cost millions of dollars, as officials race against the clock to have the job done within six months.
Double bunking will be introduced at the Otago Corrections Facility next February, extending the 335-bed facility to a 485-bed prison.
Nationwide, another 886 spaces will be created to help deal with the forecast rise in prisoner numbers.
The process appears to be far more complex than simply adding more beds to 150 cells, according to Department of Corrections tender documents issued to construction companies looking to bid for the work.
The document, obtained by the Otago Daily Times, outlines the scope of the work needed between now and February next year, when the extra prisoners will be accepted.
Four prisons around the country - Spring Hill, Northland, Auckland Women's and Otago prisons - will be upgraded.
Spring Hill Corrections Facility in Waikato is to get 368 more beds, Northland Regional Corrections Facility 198 and Auckland Regional Women's Corrections Facility 170.
The document said as well as installing extra beds, work on each site would encompass but not necessarily be limited to other "deliverables".
These include minor improvements such as an extra reading light and ventilation and heating adjustments for cells housing two prisoners, to more expensive tasks such as providing extra security fencing, recreation space, toilet and shower blocks and extending existing facilities such as health centres, laundries and kitchens.
Expanding amenities such as car-parking areas, staff changing rooms and creating more storage are also on the list.
These upgrades will come just over two years after the $218 million prison was opened.
The department yesterday declined to comment on the document and how much the extra jobs might cost, but an independent source from the construction industry estimated the bill could run into several millions of dollars for each of the four prisons.
The Otago Daily Times has filed requests under the Official Information Act to find out more about the work to be carried out at the Milburn site and the estimated costs.
Contractors and others wanting to be involved have been given the choice of applying to fit out one or all four of the prisons around the country.
Registrations of interest closed last Monday, but the department would not say how many put their names forward.
The document said the department would make a short-list of contractors who would be invited to respond and submit a formal tender.
OCF upgrade plans
• 150 new beds.
• Six extra at-risk, management and separate cells.
• Extra recreational yards plus additional hard sealed areas.
• An extra prisoner payphone for each unit.
• A solid fence between the low security unit and area containing prisoners separated from general prison population.
• Extra dining furniture.
• A new industry training workshop.
• New oven, four food preparation tables for prison kitchen.
Source: Government Electronic Tenders Service document
