Denis O’Rourke MP
Spokesperson for
Christchurch Earthquake Issues
16 JANUARY 2015

Brownlee Forces ‘Skeleton’ on Christchurch

The admission by Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee that the government will not undertake the development plan for Christchurch's South Frame as originally proposed is just another broken promise, says New Zealand First.

“It is a cynical and deliberate failure to deliver, brought on by penny pinching by the National government, says Christchurch Earthquake Issues Spokesperson Denis O’Rourke.

“The revision shows that the South Frame has been shrunk to a mere skeleton of the grand plan rolled out following public consultation in 2012.

“Clearly now that the National government has been re-elected it feels free to renege on its promises.

“The new South Frame is nothing like what was sold with great fanfare to the people of Christchurch and would be better renamed the South Skeleton.

“Mr Brownlee should admit the government has gone back on its word.

“Instead, he claims that the government has ‘become more flexible about acquiring the entire South Frame simply because at some point you've got to be a bit responsible with taxpayers’ money’.

“In fact, his responsibility was to deliver the original plan which was for publicly accessible green space with widely spaced buildings. That vision is now in the dustbin.

“The land owners, who have been mucked around for nearly three years, have good grounds for complaint in now having to rethink their options.

“If the government had promptly purchased land, it would not now be in a position of not being able to afford the land to complete the plan.

“It's just another example of National government incompetence. It should step up with the additional funds needed rather than treat the people of Christchurch with such utter contempt,” says Mr O’Rourke.

ENDS

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