MEDIA RELEASE

Ratepayers' Alliance Demands Answers Over City Rail Link Cost Blowout

15 SEPTEMBER 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is asking for answers from Auckland Council and Central Government on why Auckland ratepayers have been consistently misled on the real cost of the City Rail Link. This comes after yesterday’s admission by Len Brown and Simon Bridges that the project may cost up to $3.4 billion, nearly a billion dollars more than the original estimate of $2.5 million.

Spokesperson for the Ratepayers' Alliance, Jo Holmes says:

"Despite the numerous teams of experts, reports, expensive consultants and many years of planning, nobody at Auckland Council appears to have more than a vague idea of what the City Rail Link will ultimately cost ratepayers. It cannot be said that the Council is under resourced after last week’s revelation that Council staff numbers have continue to rise, swelling to almost 10,000 employees."

"Mayoral candidate Phil Goff's repeated assurances that he will find the funding from Central Government if elected is of little comfort to Aucklanders. They will be paying for the project in one form or the other whether it comes out of their pockets as taxpayers or ratepayers."

"Some prudent Councillors have been warning of City Rail Link cost overruns and lack of detail on which to base informed decisions. Their concerns have been justified but once again it is the hapless ratepayer who will have to pick up the tab."

As an organisation, the Ratepayers’ Alliance has repeatedly called for more accountability from Council. In the private sector the sort of cost overruns and budget blow outs that have now become typical of any large scale project under Council's control would never be tolerated.

The regularity of Council blunders and episodes of wasteful spending has been an unfortunate theme throughout Len Brown's term as Mayor. The Ratepayers' Alliance is looking forward to seeing the election of a governing body and Mayor who will be able to run a tighter ship, and hold the reins of bureaucratic spending better in check.

ENDS

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