Monday, February 12, 2007
Lord Mayor's tunnel vision falling apart
He has been forced by the Labor majority to hand down a report of forward estimates. It will be a big thick document, no doubt plenty heavy enough for the Labor group to beat him repeatedly over the head with.
In the heady days of the election in 2004, Newman promised Brisbane voters that all five tunnels in TransApex would cost around $4.5bn. The first prong (already underway) - the North South Bypass Tunnel - is costing $3bn - a blowout of around 230%.
The storm clouds are gathering. It has already been reported on Channel 9 that the news is not good for Newman and rates will have to go up by more than inflation to help pay for the tunnels.
If this happened, Newman once promised he would resign. Lets hope he keeps this promise.
Queensland Greens published this, this evening:
Lord Mayor's tunnel vision falling apart
Posted by Living with Matilda at 9:30 PM
He has been forced by the Labor majority to hand down a report of forward estimates. It will be a big thick document, no doubt plenty heavy enough for the Labor group to beat him repeatedly over the head with.
In the heady days of the election in 2004, Newman promised Brisbane voters that all five tunnels in TransApex would cost around $4.5bn. The first prong (already underway) - the North South Bypass Tunnel - is costing $3bn - a blowout of around 230%.
The storm clouds are gathering. It has already been reported on Channel 9 that the news is not good for Newman and rates will have to go up by more than inflation to help pay for the tunnels.
If this happened, Newman once promised he would resign. Lets hope he keeps this promise.
Queensland Greens published this, this evening:
TransApex Takes Away from other Priorities
Brisbane City Council's multi-billion dollar tunnels, bridges and freeways project will deprive Brisbane residents of other priorities like public transport and dealing with the challanges of climate change.
Brisbane City Council's multi-billion dollar tunnels, bridges and freeways
project will deprive Brisbane residents of other priorities like public
transport and dealing with the challanges of climate change.
Queensland Greens spokesperson Drew Hutton said the Council deficit was $135
million in November 2006 and was likely to blow out much further, especially
when Council has to find another $760 million for its contribution to
TransApex by 2010. This would have one of two consequences - either the
deficit would balloon or rates would rise substantially.
"The Newman/Hinchcliffe administration has set its financial priorities on
tunnels and bridges at a time when there are more demanding needs such as
providing solutions to the challenges of drought, climate change & housing
affordability," Mr Hutton said
"These politicians are putting residents' money into their own pet projects
not where it is needed most.
"Circumstances have changed. Brisbane can not afford a Council that lacks
fiscal responsbility and persists with spending hundreds of millions of
ratepayers dollars on misguided pet projects like TransApex."
Brisbane City Council's multi-billion dollar tunnels, bridges and freeways project will deprive Brisbane residents of other priorities like public transport and dealing with the challanges of climate change.
Brisbane City Council's multi-billion dollar tunnels, bridges and freeways
project will deprive Brisbane residents of other priorities like public
transport and dealing with the challanges of climate change.
Queensland Greens spokesperson Drew Hutton said the Council deficit was $135
million in November 2006 and was likely to blow out much further, especially
when Council has to find another $760 million for its contribution to
TransApex by 2010. This would have one of two consequences - either the
deficit would balloon or rates would rise substantially.
"The Newman/Hinchcliffe administration has set its financial priorities on
tunnels and bridges at a time when there are more demanding needs such as
providing solutions to the challenges of drought, climate change & housing
affordability," Mr Hutton said
"These politicians are putting residents' money into their own pet projects
not where it is needed most.
"Circumstances have changed. Brisbane can not afford a Council that lacks
fiscal responsbility and persists with spending hundreds of millions of
ratepayers dollars on misguided pet projects like TransApex."
Labels: Brisbane City Council, Campbell Newman
Posted by Living with Matilda at 9:30 PM
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| I am employed by Brisbane City Council. All views expressed in this blog are my own and in no way reflect the views of my employer. |
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