Darwin Waterfront Costings Questioned

Questions have been raised repeatedly by the Opposition about the accuracy of the costings for the Darwin Waterfront development and Territorians' exposure to any cost blowouts.

When questioned in the Legislative Assembly yesterday about the development of core infrastructure, the Chief Minister flippantly dismissed her Government's inability to accurately estimate the cost of projects, saying

"... You are looking at 25-40% in cost escalations … in all the projects around the Territory.”

"The Government's costing for the Oncology Unit was out by 300%, the Tiger Brennan Drive extension was out by 50%,” Jodeen Carney said.

"If the Territory Government cannot accurately estimate the cost of the extension to Tiger Brennan Drive or the cost of the Oncology Unit, how certain can Territorians be that the costings for the Waterfront are accurate?

"The Opposition supports the Waterfront: after all it was the CLP which proposed it when in Government.

"The questions Clare Martin doesn't want to answer are: how much will it actually cost; does the Chief Minister believe there will be cost blowouts; and how accurate is her estimate," said Ms Carney.

2006-08-30