Lianne Dalziel
Earthquake Recovery Spokesperson

31 July 2012

Christchurch Central Recovery Plan must be properly costed

The people of Christchurch deserve answers about who will foot the bill for the Government’s Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, says Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson.

Lianne Dalziel says it’s clear the Plan will cost considerably more than the City Council has set aside in its budget.

“But incredibly the Government will not say how exactly how much it will cost, and who will pay.

“I asked the Earthquake Recovery minister in Parliament today what the difference was between the Council’s budget for the rebuild of the city’s civic assets and the projects announced by the Government yesterday. I also asked how much of the shortfall the Government had committed to fund.

“The answer I received indicated that there had been no costings done because the designs had not be finalised. That’s just not good enough.

“At the Plan’s launch people were confident that the National-led Government had agreed to under-write the shortfall for projects such as the covered stadium, otherwise they wouldn’t be announcing them.

“If that is not the case, then we have the right to know.

“Christchurch ratepayers will not thank the Government if it expects them to pick up the tab for decisions they have had no say in,” says Lianne Dalziel.

ENDS

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