MEDIA RELEASE
Auckland Council congratulated for ‘success’ at waste awards
10 OCTOBER 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is congratulating Auckland Council for winning the ‘Jonesie’ 2018 Local Government Waste Award at an event hosted at Parliament.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson Jo Holmes says, “Auckland Council won a golden sow for its $91,000 Hunua Ranges goat hunt that didn’t kill any goats. This spending is on the smaller end of Council waste, but it’s a deserving winner because it encaptulates the absurdity of the Council’s financial management.

“Auckland Council’s other nomination was the CBD’s $260,000 mirror, which blew its original $80,000 budget, only to crack open a week after its unveiling.”

“Auckland Transport also received recognition for its botched Grey Lynn cycleway, costing ratepayers more than $20 million despite being practically abandoned by cyclists.”

“All up, the Council and its Council-controlled organisations earned three of the five local government nominations for wasting money. This puts an absolute lie to Phil Goff’s claim that he needs more funds via fuel taxes and increased rates.”

“If Phil Goff is serious about getting Council’s ballooning debt under control, he needs to commit now to halting expensive, unnecessary spending projects like those nominated at today’s awards.”
ENDS

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