Board challenges Council over costs

Auckland Council’s involvement in community and small public works projects could be doubling costs, according to the Rodney Local Board.The board is pushing for a review of Council’s procurement process which stipulates that projects under $100,000 are completed using preferred contractors.

Board member Greg Sayers says this inflates costs mainly due to the health and safety compliance costs required of the contractors.

The Board believes ratepayers may be paying nearly double current market rates, and the Board wants Council to consider a new approach to funding small public works, in particular.

“A recent example is the roof at the Kumeu Arts Centre,” Mr Sayers says.

“Council staff told the Board that replacing the roof was going to cost $40,000, but members of the centre went to private contractors who said it could be done for just $23,000.”

At the Board’s parks, culture and community development committee meeting last month, it resolved to make a $25,000 grant to the art centre members to complete the work, sidestepping the normal Council process and possibly reducing the cost by $15,000.

Committee chair Beth Houlbrooke says it is a test case that could drastically reduce the cost of Council projects.

“If this is successful it could allow community groups to get work done without the inefficiencies of Council bureaucracy,” she said. “They will be able to spend the money in a way that will benefit them most and save ratepayers money.”

Member Steven Garner says the cost of public works is a major issue.

“One example is the new toilets at Warkworth Showgrounds, which cost $480,000,” Mr Garner says. “It only has about seven toilets and little else. You can build a nice house with three en-suites for that price. The level of inefficiency is unacceptable and can’t be allowed to continue.”

Mr Sayers says the upgrade of the Wellsford toilets, which cost $73,000, is another example. The work included a $14,000 paint job and  $2600 for two plastic baby-changing tables.

“When you look at the work that has been done, it doesn’t add up.”