Press release from Land Air Water Association Inc

7 June 2001

MATT ROBSON DROPS EARLY PRISON ANNOUNCEMENT

The Minister of Corrections last night at a Hamilton public meeting punctured his own big press announcement on the new Auckland prison by leaking his main piece of news 24 hours too early.

Asked how many sites were now under consideration for the North Island men's 650-bed medium security prison planned to be ready in 2003, he answered a question from North Waikato export beef and venison farmer David Saxton by naming two properties he had ruled out of contention.

Matt Robson's spilled beans mean the new site is the third and final one being considered, 440 Hall Road in Te Kauwhata, a 130 hectare beef cattle farm near the edge of the Waikato River, just off State Highway One and halfway between Auckland and Hamilton.

Hall Road eco-tourism operator Wendy Finlayson who was one of 45 people at the meeting said it might be the end of her riverside horse-trek business, Horse-About.

She told the Minister he was taking away people's jobs and businesses. "I can see our beautiful river walkway is going to have tourists frightened of leaving their parked cars to use it," she said.

Further information: Wendy Finlayson, 07 826 3458

Press release from Lyn Louise Milnes, Tel/Fax: +64.7.826.3080 23 Hampton Downs Road, Te Kauwhata RD2, North Waikato, New Zealand

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