auditing the prison environment
the challenge
The Department of Corrections operates prison facilities located throughout New Zealand from North Auckland to Invercargill and is responsible for providing buildings and services, including operational maintenance and compliance management. A six month nationwide environmental audit was initiated in order to reinforce its ongoing efforts to:- Comply with legislation and regulation
- Maintain and enhance the value of its assets
- Satisfy internal and external stakeholders and to build community and public trust
- Remove any barriers to the attainment of resource consents and permits and to build trust amongst regulatory authorities
- Reduce operational and maintenance costs
- Increase awareness amongst staff in relation to environmental issues
- Provide for sound emergency response and preparedness plans
our role
A six month nationwide environmental audit, focused on the following environmental aspects:- Waste (solid, liquid, gas) generation
- Wastewater production
- Water contamination
- Air pollution and noise emissions
- Chemical and hazardous substance use and storage
- Land use
- Energy use
- Water use
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Ozone depleting gas emissions
- Building construction and maintenance
- Materials use
- Transportation
- Industry
the environmental audit
- Identified actual and potential environmental effects associated with the routine activities at the 17 prison sites
- Recommended a process to reduce, remove or mitigate those environmental effects identified, in order to comply with the requirements of ISO14001
- Identified legal compliance and non-compliance, with respect to environmental effects (RMA, hazardous substances, unauthorised discharges or activities)
- Developed an Environmental Management Strategy
stakeholders
Neighbours, Local Iwi/Hapu, Department of Conservation, Staff, Local Authorities, Government, Contractors, Environmental Interest Groups (e.g. Forest and Bird, Fish and Game), Regional and District Health Authorities, EECA, Fire Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, OSH, Transit, Civil Defence, Forestry Stewardship CouncilBACK
