The Tasmanian Government has spent more than $543,000 so far on developing the Northern Regional Prison north of Westbury as due diligence works continue for its current preferred site.
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The figure was provided to Concerned Residents Opposed to the Westbury Prison Site following a meeting with Corrections Minister Elise Archer last month, who took the question on notice.
A Department of Justice spokesperson said the figure included consultant fees, office costs, travel and "general overheads" since mid-2018.
"The figure ... includes work done on the previous site as part of the overall Northern Regional Prison project, and also relevant to the new site, including due diligence and investigations for planning," the spokesperson said.
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"The figure is consistent within the range expected for a major project development of this type and complexity."
The government initially chose a site at the industrial site on Westbury's northern fringe, but then moved it five kilometres up Birralee Road after community opposition.
The new site has continued to encounter opposition in relation to its conservation values. Threatened animals including the grey goshawk, wedge-tailed eagle, green and gold frog, Tasmanian devil and masked owl have been confirmed as present.
Drill testing was expected to start in October, but was delayed several times and now put on hold after the resignation of the government's environmental consultant.
The department spokesperson said it is continuing to seek a new consultant.
CROWPS met with Ms Archer on November 1 and provided her a list of questions, some of which received the response: "it is not possible to provide details at this stage of the project".
"The lack of information raises more transparency questions as to why the minister is unwilling to provide any facts on the project almost six months since the announcement of the proposed new Northern Regional Prison site," the group said in a statement.
"In these tough times one would wish for the government to not be throwing away Tasmanian taxpayers' money on a project that has no hope of getting off the ground at the totally inappropriate Brushy Rivulet crown reserve site at Westbury."
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