Today, Radio NZ reported:
This outrageous cost is because the government doesn't have the expertise within its own departments.
The Ministry of Works used to undertake all road planning at nominal cost... It was disestablished in 1996 to became the privately owned Opus International Consultants and Works Infrastructure. So lets put this one down to another privatization blunder by National.
Transport consultants have received $200 million in the past three years for work done on roads of national significance.
Some $216 million has been spent since 2009 on investigation and design work for five of the seven roads - Puhoi to Wellsford, Auckland's western ring route, the Waikato expressway, Wellington's northern corridor and Christchurch motorways.
Information obtained by Radio New Zealand under the Official Information Act shows $200 million of this was paid to consultants.
Almost half, $92 million, was paid for work done on the northern corridor.
This outrageous cost is because the government doesn't have the expertise within its own departments.
The Ministry of Works used to undertake all road planning at nominal cost... It was disestablished in 1996 to became the privately owned Opus International Consultants and Works Infrastructure. So lets put this one down to another privatization blunder by National.
