Asking how the Tauranga City Council is able to spend $650,000 repairing, 'a gravel track around a rock” got Councillor Murray Guy a ‘telling-off' when he broached the subject at this week's projects and monitoring committee meeting.
First he wanted to know where the money came from and then why it cost so much.
He pointed out the council debated in depth $30,000 to be spent on Sydenham Park, but it was able to find $650,000 in some council deposit without a worry.
'I'm just curious how we are able to achieve that,” says Murray.
'This is a huge amount to me – I'm just surprised the open spaces budget had it available, given that we are running such a tight ship.”
Chairman of the Mauao project steering group, Councillor Wayne Moultrie, told Murray the costs, and where the money is to come from, was discussed by the group last week at a meeting the Murray could have attended but chose not to.
'He could have had his answers a week ago,” says Wayne.
The $650,000 comes out of the open spaces budget and has been found by reallocating and reprioritising other items, says city services group manager Ian McDonald.
'I still haven't come to grips with the incredible costs,” says Murray.
He challenged $110,000 spent on geotechnical services, when council staff possessed the skills and experience to repair what he described as a gravel track around a rock.
'Theses are huge sums of money,” says Murray.
27 comments
Posted on 14-06-2011 15:59 | By The Tomahawk Kid
I say good on you Murray for asking these questions. The only problem is that because Murray does not base his decision making on a set of principles that ensure his decision making is consistent, he would probably be happy to spend that money on something ELSE - which is a shame. Good on you all the same Mr Guy
self serving
Posted on 14-06-2011 16:03 | By CC8
It is about arse covering!! they may well have the skills and experience,( on paper) but don't expect them to use the "qualifications " , and they are not prepared to accept that someone without a degree may know how to do something practical. Equally,most times they think they may know but have never done anything except read a book and answered a few questions, so when asked to actually put all that "knowledge " to work they need a consultant involved in order to put three layers of protection in place , thereby covering the aforesaid ass. An experienced operator ( such as Cr Guy) would have the track built and stable before the consultant had negotiated his fee. What is it about Wayne Moultrie that stops him from answering a civil question without a snide remark?
Is he competent?
Posted on 14-06-2011 16:09 | By monty111
I find it difficult to believe that someone who is drawing a huge wage from the ratepayer can not tell the difference between a small bit of land which benefits a few families who live in the vicinity of Sydenham park and a huge part of the culture, history and enjoyment of thousands of Tauranga residents who love to see and walk the Mount. Furthermore to fail to attend a meeting which explained the cost and then to question something he should have known the answer to beggars belief! Roll on the next election with a hope that we get value for money with some new worthwhile Councilors.
Mount Track
Posted on 14-06-2011 16:45 | By Glen Clova
I for one think the cost of the fix is over the top .Also the amount of people who live within a 10 klm radius of Sydenham park would be the same as the Mount its just that we live in the poorer part of Tga and its not yuppie enough for the coffee brigade.
GOLD PLATED GRAVEL TRACK
Posted on 14-06-2011 16:53 | By YOGI
Lots use the track, but that in no way justifies ass covering over spending any day of the week, Murray is right to question and ask, that is part of why they are actually all there, it is amazing that $$ can be found in teh roading budget for sealing all of Ocean Beach Road, yet there is just isnt enough money to upgrade a couple of speakers to a decent size ... they are actually alredy in storage ... but we just have to buy "new ones", give me a break folks.
When its Due ...Its Due
Posted on 14-06-2011 17:02 | By Tony
Well done councillor Guy.But surely there must be more around the table that are starting to ask questions as well or has everyone settled into their "Committees" and are too busy to ask questions other than "whos doing the catering"? Rate payers have a right to expect councillors to keep the "staff" and other "hired guns" on a short leash dont we? Anyway Thank you for having a go.
@ TONY
Posted on 14-06-2011 17:35 | By YOGI
They dont even have to think about the Catering these days, it is buffet 24/7 with everything you desire available, at Ratepayers expense of course.
OPEN SPACES BUDGET ???
Posted on 14-06-2011 17:55 | By WARTS N ALL
That must the fall back fund for everything and anything currently, (used to be the Footpath reserve before). how much left in there after this and the Baypark spendup, cant be much left, then I guess there will have to be more borrowings from some where new?
Banknote printers at work beware
Posted on 14-06-2011 18:02 | By KAMIKAZE
Saw the Mount Track prior to the so called disaster walked around about 8 weeks ago and again today.Spill needed clearing off the Track most certainly and some retaining work has been done sure but $650000 is just a bad joke .Cr MOULTRIE Open Spaces Account doesn't equate to an open chequebook.Apparently if it moves throw money at it. Dodgey sh** it is to be sure to be sure. Jeez Wayne what's the go here
Open book Policy
Posted on 14-06-2011 18:31 | By Colleen Spiro
Whether it is Mr Guy asking the question or anyone else at anytime... the answers should be freely available.
Stick to it Murray
Posted on 14-06-2011 18:55 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Obviously the Mount track is more important than the viability of the Tauranga CBD.Hard to understand the thinking of some of your council colleagues.Keep up the good work.
money money money
Posted on 14-06-2011 20:04 | By onthelevel
Good on you murray. The next round of slips will cost another $650,000 as well as the slips after the next one' s. While your at it can you ask why the brand new road leading from 15th avenue to bethlehem is being dug up and relayed ? this is a near new road and should last for years and years ! who pays for this and why is it necessary. The cost is huge. why is this happening. shouldn't the contractors who did the work in the first place be made to guarantee their work ? DO IT ONCE, DO IT WELL, BUILD A BETTER NEW ZEALAND !!!!
Money Meter
Posted on 14-06-2011 20:15 | By Openknee8ted
Take a look at how TCAL finally solved the nearly hot pools problem by using a water meter. Each councilor could have a meter showing the amount of money gushing out of the Council Bank Accounts and the rates increase required to keep the account out of overdraft. Maybe then the councillors will realise the effect of their decisions on the rate payer and finally have a tool to aid the decision making precess.
Chairman Wayne ...
Posted on 14-06-2011 20:30 | By Murray.Guy
Chairman Mauao can't help himself. This was no telling off as I was doing my job - this was a BRUSH OFF, unable to provide a reasoned and rational response. A defensive mechanism that we see an increasing amount of. He omits to points out that the Mauao project steering group only has Crs Moultrie, Baldock and Catherine Stewart on it, in the company of external reps and Tangata Whenua. The rest of us, including Mayor Crosby, have other committments, meetings to attend. Hands up those that can guess the purpose of the Monitoring Committee Committee - Yeh! You're correct. To monitor, to question, to be accountable, to advocate on behalf of the community. Somebody tell Cr. Wayne Moultrie, he won't listen to me!
It would be interesting to know
Posted on 14-06-2011 21:05 | By whiskers
I tend to agree with Murray.It would be interesting to have a breakdown of the costs as the amount appears huge to clear a walking track.Is it really necessary to employ consultants when all that was reasonably required was clearing debris from a track.The council must know that the track is going to be vunerable to further storm damage with such steep banks and loose material above the track for much of the circuit.They don't need to have consultants tell them that!
$650k Wow Unbelievable
Posted on 15-06-2011 00:54 | By splitpin
Dear Mr Guy, Thank you so much for asking obvious questions.Can we, the rate payers & public also see a breakdown of how this $650k is made up? Regards ... PS How much to move the rock?
OPEN SPACES IS RIGHT - IN COUNCILLORS HEADS
Posted on 15-06-2011 07:59 | By POCO O POCO
An absolute farce there is no accountability for the spend up. A brief report on what has been done and a summary of the costings could have been readily provided on a sheet of A4 paper.Cr GUY is quite right to question and Cr Moultrie as usual couldn't care less, understands nothing about financial stuff and doesn't appear to know the time of day.Cr GUY is not on the MAUAO Steering committee so why on earth would he attend the meeting.
Council spends like it is free money
Posted on 15-06-2011 08:00 | By wreck1080
$650,000 does seem outrageous in the way you describe this. But seriously, you need more details on the actual work. If it is just a case of getting a little digger to grade a path around the rock then gravelling then that should only cost a little. But, if retaining /tunnelling work, and drainage are involved, then I guess costs could increase. Maybe they need falling rock protection around the path? Can't you read the minutes from the meeting where they discussed this?
The Last Post
Posted on 15-06-2011 09:45 | By bigted
Murray's post yesterday was that councillors are not aware nor made aware of some descisions. We can see why then how council are suckered in the tendering process!
Back up the Truck
Posted on 15-06-2011 12:45 | By Mr bay
wasn't everyone complaining that it was taking to long to fix and "just get in and fix it" now it is complete 2 months ahead of schedule and you still are complaining, we all knew it wasn't going to take a dozen PD workers with shovels to fix.
SUCKERED IN ALL PROCESES
Posted on 15-06-2011 12:57 | By DRONE
@ Murray, yes the Monitouring Committee is for jut that reason that is ti there, Wayne M clearly does not like anyone dareing to ask questions, get rid of him then !
JEEZ WAYNE WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT- $650k YEAH RIGHT
Posted on 16-06-2011 18:46 | By Hebegeebies
Just put the exact $ figures out there in plain English explaining who the various payments were made to and the amount in each case.If you don't do that CR Moultrie it will be fair to assume TCC has something to hide ?
UNREAL SPENDUPS AT LARGE
Posted on 17-06-2011 09:34 | By PLONKER
$110,000 on Geotech, like we know that there was a slip right, just look. WTF do you need someone to tell you that so as then you place a bit more metal around ... gotta get real.
@ Mr Bay
Posted on 17-06-2011 20:52 | By Nigel Barker
no not every one. I said here many times "Close the track". Let those that want it open pay. Let the owners pay. Let DOC pay. Let the business's that say they rely on the visitors pay.Why should the good people of Tauranga pay for it via their rates? At a guess I reckon less than 20% of this fine city would use it once a year. I reckon that at least 70% of the citizens would have never ever walked around it. If its a goer let private enterprise or some one else fund it. We have the same fiasco happening with the 'mount pools' with 'Baypark' with the new bowling/booze facility, the library competing with ratepayers in the CD rental bizz ~ thats just three. And we get the rates increased to fund all this. What the hell is wrong with TCC sticking to its knitting instead of going where angels fear to tread?? - Citizens Monitoring Council -
Well Said Nigel Barker
Posted on 19-06-2011 12:16 | By The Tomahawk Kid
@Nigel Barker: Thats the most sensible thing anybody has said here for a long time. Well said. @onthe level: re DO IT ONCE, DO IT WELL, BUILD A BETTER NEW ZEALAND !!!! Shame more werent paying attention when that saying came into play back in the 70s wasnt it? I couldnt agree more.
Kultural koha kringers
Posted on 21-06-2011 17:29 | By MINDER
Perhaps the alleged owners of the icon might like to contribute something tangible like free labour rather than sit on their jacksies and yak yak about it.Fat chance of that happening.
@ MINDER
Posted on 22-06-2011 00:24 | By Nigel Barker
**Kultural koha kringers** - LOL. Geez you are bad bad bad to the bone mate ... LOL
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