Mahurangi Matters_Issue 270_15 April 2015

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April 15, 2015

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Puhoi • Warkworth • Snells • Matakana • Omaha • Leigh • Pakiri • Wellsford • Port Albert • Kaiwaka • Mangawhai

g n o l o S er... m m u S

Omaha lifeguards, from left, Xavier GarneauRoughan, Katy North and Ashley Maher, brought down the flags for the last time this summer at the end of the Easter weekend on April 6. continued page 2

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. continued page 2

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