Tizard tells Infrastructure Auckland to fork out or die

By BERNARD ORSMAN

Auckland Issues Minister Judith Tizard is threatening to abolish Infrastructure Auckland unless it makes a sizeable contribution to the Britomart project.

Judith Tizard yesterday told Infrastructure Auckland to close the funding gap on the transport terminal or face the consequences.

"It is getting to the point where I may have to take the issue to cabinet to discuss legislative change to either abolish or reform Infrastructure Auckland because if they won't do the job they should get out of the way of those who will."

The junior minister also criticised the amount of money Infrastructure Auckland was spending on administration. So far, Infrastructure has made grants totalling $42 million but has paid out only $423,711.

Infrastructure Auckland, with a staff of 11 in a Queen St office block, spends about $5 million a year on administration. Board costs in the coming year have been set at $216,300.

Judith Tizard said a review of the Local Government Act provided an opportunity for the Government to make major changes to Infrastructure Auckland, which controls nearly $1 billion of assets to improve transport and stormwater disposal.

The assets could be handed back to the Auckland Regional Council from where they were "stolen" in a 1992 National Government shake-up of the regional body, she said.

The seven-member board of Infrastructure Auckland have faced unprecedented regional support for Britomart since they deferred a decision on July 18 on how much to give the downtown transport centre.

The Auckland City Council asked Infrastructure Auckland for $91.5 million towards Britomart, but staff recommended a grant of between $29.8 million and $35.2 million. The Infrastructure board will reconsider the application on Monday.