John Banks - Hypocrisy on spending 

8th September 2010 at 12:45

It is time to call John Banks on the total nonsense he spins at every meeting and interview about his focus being "affordable progress". Like a demented dalek he refuses to actually answer questions and staccato-style returns time and time again to this and other market tested phrases.

Well it's time to call the "affordable progress" line for what it is – complete garbage. In using this PR crafted phrase Banks is attempting to associate himself with the values of thrift and prudence. By extension, he is attempting to cast his opponents as wasteful.

While it is true that Mr Banks and his C&R team have cut back spending on a range of community level programmes, it is all very different when it comes to their pet projects. The most outlandish example is the ongoing saga of Monte Cecilia School. We have dealt with the manifest injustice being inflicted on the school previously, but let's now just focus on the total fiscal irresponsibility of Banks' and C&R's plan.

First question – how much is the whole plan costing Mr Banks.... ummmm, well you see, it's kind a complicated, and ummm, we can't really tell you – the public that is.

That's right. Despite the enormous costs involved, and despite the huge community concern, John Banks and C&R will not tell us how much public money is being spent on this project. Either they don't know, or they do and they are not telling us. Back in early June the C&R Councillor from Remuera Paul Goldsmith accused opponents of the plan of bandying around incorrect figures and promised that actual costings would be released shortly. Three months later we are still waiting.

Estimates of the total cost depending on who you talk to vary from an absolute minimum of $30 million up to $100 million. Whatsmore, we know that the Council is continuing to acquire further properties in the area for further expansion of the park. Again, no one knows if there is a budget for this, and if so what it is. To put all of this in perspective, Auckland City's entire budget for new open space for the next 10 years is just over $63 million. So at least half, or possibly that entire budget is being spent on this one project.

And despite all of this, Banks and C&R claim "affordable progress". What is affordable about a massive, un-costed pet project, and how is it progress to unnecessarily uproot a local school, when it could very easily be re-located on the site, saving tens of millions of dollars of public money.

So the next time John Banks has a go at any of the other contenders for the Mayoralty about loose spending and claiming "affordable progress", please dismiss it for what it is – rank hypocrisy.

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