Sportspark deal raises spending questions

MAINTENANCE DEBATE: Whangarei's biggest lawnmowing job is causing controversy among councillors. PHOTO/MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

A $6.5 million contract has some Whangarei District councillors questioning whether the spending of ratepayer money is being scrutinised carefully enough.

The Sportspark Management and Maintenance Contract is among the largest awarded through Whangarei District Council's tendering process, covering upkeep of 13 of the district's 17 sports grounds.

It was last week awarded to incumbent contractor Recreational Services Ltd, despite four councillors voting against the move, saying they did not have enough information to make a fair decision and raising issues around transparency and the authority of staff.

Representatives from contracting giant Downer - which also bid for the job - approached two councillors with concerns about the way the tendering process had been handled.

It is understood Downer put in a tender of $5 million to undertake the job for the next five years. Recreational Services Ltd's tender was $6.5 million. The company had undertaken the work in question for the past 13 years, including bookings, closures, data collection, liaison with clubs and grounds work.

Downer's tender, along with one from Tractors Ag and Turf, was deemed to be "non-conforming" by council staff and was thus rejected, with staff recommending councillors approve the Recreational Services bid.

Councillor Stuart Bell said staff did not have authority to make a decision on such a large contract, and councillors had not been provided with the information they needed to make an informed choice.

While there was usually a confidential focus group ahead of any big decision, this had not happened in regards to the sportspark contract, he said.

"We're talking multi-million dollar contracts, it's not something to be taken lightly ... I'm over rubber-stamping stuff when only one option was ever given to us," he said.

Mr Bell was bristling after Mayor Sheryl Mai said she would forgive him for being "inexperienced" and alluded to the fact he may not fully understand the process. However, long-term Councillor Phil Halse said he too had concerns over the contract.

Mr Halse's main gripe was that while council's "premier" inner-city parks are maintained to a high standard, rural grounds were often left in the hands of community groups.

"I would have liked to have the chance to scrutinise and have a talk about the standard we expect from the new contract," he said.

Documents released to the public should fully show how contracts were awarded, he said.

WDC group manager infrastructure and services Simon Weston said councillors could request whatever information they felt they needed to make a decision.

Information was only withheld from the public domain when it was commercially sensitive.

Mayor Mai, who voted for Recreational Services to again take on the job, said she had complete faith in the staff recommendation.