Source: Radio New Zealand
Wellington City Council has voted to do a review of the Golden Mile project. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The new Wellington City Council have voted to do a review of the contentious Golden Mile project.
Council officers are now predicting the project, which was budgeted to cost $139 million, could cost up to $220 million.
Some works have already begun on the project, but council officers said in October it was discovered that the Courtenay Place works, which are currently under negotiation, are now expected to exceed budget by $15 to $25 million dollars.
It’s the second time this year a budget blowout has been reported on the project. In August a $20 million blowout was reported, but the project was brought back into budget.
Mayor Andrew Little described the review as the responsible thing to do, he said the cost of the project had got to a level where they could not proceed in good conscious as if nothing had changed.
But he said the objectives of the Golden Mile were good.
Meanwhile Deputy Mayor Ben McNaulty said the council couldn’t afford the cost blow out, particularly in light of recent blow outs with the Town Hall and the Sludge Minimisation Plant.
“We can’t afford it, it’s just that black and white”
Councillor Rebecca Matthews said the council had far too many times pressed paused when they should have pressed fast forward.
She was concerned the review could represent the first step in terminating the project. She said she hoped she was wrong in her fears.
The vote passed with 12 in favour and 4 opposed. Those opposed were Matthews, Laurie Foon, Jonny Osborne and Geordie Rogers.
New Eastern Ward Councillor Karl Tiefenbacher. Supplied
‘Council needs to create an environment where people can afford to live’
New Eastern Ward Councillor Tiefenbacher told councillors he wanted to be proud, but couldn’t be until the council looked back at the end of the term and saw Wellington was a better place than it is now.
He said the council needed to create an environment where people could afford to live, businesses could thrive and there were opportunities for youth.
Fellow new Eastern Ward Councillor Sam O’Brien said many of the challenges Wellington faced were a result of choices, not chance.
He pointed to an infrastructure deficit, unaffordable rents and water challenges.
“None of this is inevitable it is the consequence of decisions to defer and deflect and hope that someone else will deal with it later.”
He said the council needed to invest in public services that made people’s lives better on a day-to-day basis.
Other councillors who made their maiden speeches were Matthew Reweti, Jonny Osborne, Afnan Al-Rubayee and Andrea Compton.
Councillor Ray Chung has kept his position as chairperson. RNZ / Mark Papalii
Some Councillors oppose appointment of Ray Chung as chairperson
While discussing chairperson appointments, new councillor Osborne said he, Foon, Matthews and Rogers did not support Ray Chung’s appointment.
“Undermining the mana and integrity of your colleagues by spreading offensive and misogynistic rumours is not good leadership,” he said.
Early this year former Mayor Tory Whanau released an email Chung sent to three fellow councillors in early 2023 recounting a story he’d been told by his neighbour about the neighbour’s son allegedly having a sexual encounter with the mayor.
But Osborne said as “constructive partners” and recognising this was a decision for the mayor, the green faction would vote in favour of the paper.
The vote passed unopposed.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
