Media Release
City Vision-Labour Councillors - Auckland City Council
For Immediate Release
Thursday 18 June 2009

C&R Afflicted With “Rugby World Cup-itis”

At today’s Auckland City Council meeting, the Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) councillors voted for an $84.5 million dollar project on Queen’s Wharf which will host the public space activities for the Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) described as ‘Party Central’ by the Prime Minister.

Councillor Richard Northey said, “I am disappointed that C&R and John Banks today gave an uncritical tick-off to a massive $84.5 million of spending on Queen’s Wharf for John Key’s “Party Central” for the RWC. City Vision-Labour agrees that Council needed to seize the chance to secure public access to Queen’s Wharf. However, C&R neglected their obligation to cut out any gold-plating, for example, the $16 million on flash paving stones that I moved to cut out. They also voted against my suggestion to eliminate $10 million of other RWC spending that has effectively been made redundant by this grand spend up on ‘Party Central’.”

Councillor Leila Boyle said, “C&R’s lack of analysis of the figures for the different parts of the overall project costs is really disappointing and downright lazy. I am sick and tired of C&R spending these huge amounts of money on RWC at the expense of important suburban community projects like the Otahuhu swimming pool and MAGIC (Music and Arts Glen Innes Centre).”

Councillor Cathy Casey said, “A new pandemic has broken out at Auckland City Council called ‘Rugby World Cup-itis’. The symptoms are feverish spending of ratepayers’ money on anything to do with the RWC 2011 and blindness to the real long term needs of Aucklanders living in the suburbs.”

Councillor Graeme Easte said, “My biggest disappoint is the speed in which this multi-million dollar decision was made and the lack of public input to date. Given that the Council has been forced into a quick response it is important that we seek public input into the options for the existing buildings and landscaping to ensure this is of benefit to Aucklanders for many years into the future.”

Councillor Glenda Fryer said, “The draft 10-Year Plan proposed an outrageously unfair impost of a RWC 2011 targeted rate which meant a 1.5% rates increase on all residential ratepayers from Otahuhu to Great Barrier regardless of whether the Cup benefits them or not. This big spend up decision for the final 10-Year Plan will mean the 1.5% increase will more than double to at least a 3.5% rates rise.”

ENDS

Information provided by officers of the cost breakdown for the $84.5 million along with City Vision-Labour amended amounts is as follows:

/ Officers' recommendation and C&R's decision / / City Vision-Labour amendment /
Wharf repairs / $18.0m / 21% / $18.0m / 26%
Demolition / $1.6m / 2% / $1.6m / 2%
Services / $2.5m / 3% / $2.5m / 4%
Surface levelling / $2.6m / 3% / $2.6m / 4%
Surface treatment / $11.5m / 14% / - / 0%
Ship Mooring / $2.7m / 3% / $2.7m / 4%
Building restoration / $14.1m / 17% / $14.1m / 21%
Terminal Concourse / $5.6m / 7% / $5.6m / 8%
Safety barriers / $0.5m / 1% / $0.5m / 1%
Professional fees / $10.3m / 12% / $8.0m / 12%
Consents / $1.0m / 1% / $1.0m / 1%
Contingency / $13.6m / 16% / $11.0m / 16%
Other costs / $0.5m / 1% / $0.5m / 1%
TOTAL / $84.5m / / $68.1m /

Notes
- Wharf repairs included $7m for repairs and $11 m to bring it up to earthquake standards
- Services included utility provision such as water, wastewater, power etc
- Surface treatment included expensive paving stones similar to Queen St

ENDS

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