KEY POINTS:
The cost of upgrading facilities on Mt Eden (Maungawhau) has blown out from $6 million to between $12 million and $29 million - and the ratepayer pain may not end there.
Preliminary estimates show a new visitors' centre and electric vehicles to the summit could lose about $2.25 million a year, which ratepayers would have to pay for. Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Saf (Auckland)
This is unbelievable. The third cost blowout in three weeks! And the results are extraordinary! Now ratepayers are expected to foot the ever rising bill? This is simply more evidence that we have a bunch on incompetents sitting there getting paid by ratepayers money and then stuffing up again and again and again (three times in three weeks!). This simply cannot continue. Here's an idea! How about we fire the whole lot and use their high salaries to pay for all the blowouts? In any case the ratepayers are still footing the bill, however at least we don't have to put up with these idiots mess ups!
Tonia Still
Simple - if people want to get to top of Mt Eden they can walk, after all aren't we meant to be encouraging physical fitness?
Unfair story
How can this be a blow-out? Public consultation is in September and nothing has been decided yet, let alone gone over-budget. How can a council put forward options if everything is called a blow-out before it has even begun?
Eric
Whom stands to benefit from these "upgrades"? Coaches and cars have been banned - the tourism purveyors are the most likely benefactors of such upgrades - what portion of the bill are they footing? I'm a ratepayer and I couldn't care less if these services are put in - why not leave the environment as it is? Tourists in New Zealand don't assist me in any way at all, so expecting me to contribute by using my tax money to fund something to improve their NZ experience, is farcical. Bring on some financial accountability for the inept fools whom spend tax-payer funds with such appalling disregard for the taxpayer.
Adam
The council are bonkers. The purpose of investing in an attraction is to make money, not to lose it. Mt Eden is not worth $29 million to protect. It's funny that the council wants to invest millions protecting this piece of Auckland while it has happily presided over the building of thousands of ugly, leaky apartments and in-full housing. Why conserve anything now? If you want tourists to go up the mountain let them walk or take a limited bus service. A multi-million dollar loss making train is just nuts. Also I don't believe that Mt Eden is falling apart, the council have been sold a story and now have to go along with it or look like mugs.
pCb (Auckland)
Value for money? In a word no! Just another example of the current councils inclusivity where we the rat payer get to pay for it all.
Staggered
Dr Thomas Sowell, author and senior fellow at the Hoover Institute said about government, "It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong". His words could have no better example than the performance of the Auckland City Council. If this kind of mis-management took place in any private business, the CEO and Chairman would be sacked. I can't imagine Mr Hubbard would allow losses and cost blow outs to affect the bottom-line at his cereal operation.
Le Fox
Lets get rid of Hubbard, he is dangerous to our health & wealth.I couldn't live with myself if I was making only 10 per cent of the financial gaffs this useless fool is making. Hubbard, do us a favour and get lost.
Hugh
What an absolute waste of money. If this is what the current council think is important bring on the elections and lets get Banksie voted in. I'm not paying rates to make some councilors "feel good'. Only governments and councils can get away with cost blowouts like these and Clark's days are numbered as well.
Kris
How about some Council love for the other cones in the Auckland area?
