$264,472.70 spent to confirm what we already knew

Media Statement
13 June 2007

$264,472.70 spent to confirm what we already knew

More than a quarter of a million dollars in ratepayer’s money was spent to confirm that Auckland City Council’s draft billboards and signs bylaws could not be implemented without exposing that local authority to a legal challenge. The amount of public money spent has stunned the Property Council of New Zealand.

Connal Townsend, Chief Executive of the Property Council, said $264,472.70 had been squandered despite Auckland City Council staff apparently knowing that the law prevented them from confiscating existing use and property rights.

“It is absolutely disgraceful to see such a huge amount of money blown on such a pointless exercise. The legal and policy arguments presented by the Property Council clearly demonstrated that Auckland City Council did not have the power to override existing use rights,” Connal Townsend said.

Information sought by and released to the Property Council gives a breakdown of cost for work associated with the Auckland City Council’s review of the draft billboards and signs bylaws: Advertising costs $14,752.20 Postage and courier $5,649.35 Printing costs $18,731.79 Legal fees $104,288.57 Consultative fees $121,050.79 Miscellaneous (incl. hireage of van to take panel on site visits, catering, etc) $863.50 Over 1,600 hours of staff time was spent on policy, research, drafting and attendance at hearings. Over 170 hours was spent providing administrative support to hearings.

“Auckland City ratepayers have experienced substantial rate increases year on year over the past three years. The Property Council, like other stakeholder organisations, has questioned where the money is being spent and whether ratepayers are receiving value for their contribution.

“I believe ratepayers will question whether spending more than a quarter of a million dollars on an exercise to confirm what submitters had been telling Auckland City Council all along, represents value for money.

“Previously an elected member of the Auckland City Council, was reported as saying the (illegal) proposed billboards and signs bylaws could be enacted, thus making Auckland look “just like Paris”. The Property Council’s own price shopping shows that you could buy 91 economy return trips to Paris with the amount of money that was squandered by Auckland City Council in its failed attempt to ban billboards and signs,” Connal Townsend said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media