Sunday, 23 June 2013

Time for Consensus Building Group to stop spending and step up

Auckland Council's Consensus Building Group - tasked by Mayor Len Brown to investigate and recommend alternative transport funding options - has cost ratepayers $598,572 including over $25,000 on seven meetings since October, reveals Auckland Councillor for Orakei Cameron Brewer.

As at 30 April, the group had also spent over $153,000 on communications with much work still to do including reviewing all the public submissions and putting final recommendations to the council scheduled for next month. The group has a total project budget of over $1.1m with over $70,000 already spent on CBG members alone.

"The good news is that the Consensus Building Group has had quite a few submissions but the bad news is this 17-member group seems to be spending quite a lot on itself.

“There's a real risk that after all these expensive meetings, all this talk, a glossy discussion document and a flash website, the public will be none the wiser come the local body elections. The public needs some firm and detailed direction over what additional costs for the likes of drivers may or may not be on the table."

Mr Brewer says the Mayor publicly promised in 2011 to consider a referendum as part of the 2013 elections over the likes of toll roads, which he is now refusing to do, along with no referendum on Maori seats despite promising that as well.

“The reality is come the end of his first term the Mayor may be no closer to reaching any political or public agreement on how we're going to address Auckland's agreed $12 billion transport funding shortfall, and gridlock will continue to cost the region over $1 billion per annum.

"I call on the Mayor to keep his eye on the prize and to make sure this group steps up next month with some very clear and concise recommendations. It’s now time for less hui and more do-ey."

"What’s more despite all this talk over the past nine months, they're further away than ever on convincing the Government over the merits of tolling NZTA's existing motorway network or introducing a regional fuel tax. In fact, arguably they've so far only pushed the Government into saying a firmer no," says Mr Brewer.

www.cameronbrewer.co.nz

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