Another shocker from a shockingly incompetent government:
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/chris-lynch-heads-must-roll-over-convention-centre-bungles/
Heads need to roll and quickly, following more shocking news that
Christchurch will have to wait another nine months for the Government
led convention centre.
Treasury has released yet another scathing report highlighting issues
with the project�s definition, budget and benefits. The last word
benefit is telling. How many times do those at the top need to be told
of the benefits of a convention centre for Christchurch? Or could it
just be that they�re struggling to produce a sound business case? It�s
always interesting when the private hotels cry out for them, but are
never willing to dig into their own pockets to fund them.
Originally, the project was due to be completed next year. However,
building work has yet to start. But don�t worry, plenty of people are
creaming it while the going is good. $16 million has been spent
arranging the convention centre, and that doesn�t include the $60
million already spent on buying up the land.
If the convention centre was being led by a private company, then the
CEO of that company would have been fired a long time ago for failing
to deliver on the project.
April 2019 has now been set as the latest operational completion date.
That�s frankly disgusting and Gerry Brownlee needs to front up and
stop acting like a 12 year old whenever criticism comes his way.
"It's the usual sort of rubbish" - Brownlee launches another attack on
Treasury
The report also shows the government initially wanted all negotiations
around the convention centre to be finalised before CERA was
disestablished. Well that hasn�t happened? So who�s going to take responsibility? Who�s protecting who? And who needs to be fired for
failing Christchurch and its business community?
Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Gerry Brownlee says the
report doesn't mean a thing and has made his usual sarcastic attacks
on �Treasury's competence.�
He says �Treasury is so brilliant it looks at New Zealand's
involvement in the Antarctic, gives it green lights all the way, not recognising we don't have a plane that can fly there safely, nor a
ship that can get there.� What planet is he on? Diversion works
sometimes, but not this time.
There�s more bad news for the minister. The report says the effective
delivery of anchor projects in Christchurch's post-quake recovery,
face significant risk because of transition problems as CERA's
responsibilities are transferred to a new entity.
How many staff members from CERA are now with the agency, Regenerate Christchurch? This needs to be investigated. And what does Otakaro
Limited actually do? And what about Development Christchurch? And what
about the Canterbury Development Corporation? They�re all funded with rate-payer and tax payer cash. Those working there need KPIs and they
must be made public.
To make matter worse questions are being raised after the �purpose� of
the Crown-owned company charged with delivering anchor projects, was
changed.
The Press reports changes to Otakaro Limited's constitution were
signed off by Brownlee on May 19 and Finance Minister Bill English,
Otakaro's other shareholder minister, on May 25.
Otakaro's purpose clause originally said it would "deliver" the anchor projects, but that�s under the new clause that now says it will "add
value" to the projects. Could it be those at the top realise they
can�t delivery on time?
These organisations needs to merge into one slim-downed machine, a
commissioner needs to be appointed to run it, and Brownlee can then
take a break.
The old boys network in this city needs to be broken and smashed and
the city needs to recover on its own, because so far, government
intervention on the city, when it comes to the anchor projects, has
been nothing more than a disaster.
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