Northern Territory Government Can't Cost Projects

The Treasurer’s credibility has sunk to new lows today with her failure to provide costings for the overdue walkway between the Waterfront and the Mall.

“It’s pitiful that Delia Lawrie can’t tell Territory taxpayers how much this project is going to cost,” says Terry Mills, Leader of the Opposition.

“In 2005 the Government announced the walkway was going to cost $1.5 million, later the figure of $2.5 million was bandied around and now, it’s anyone’s guess – $5 million?, $6 million?

“What’s for certain is the Henderson Government’s inability to deliver projects on schedule is leading to budget blowouts that are costing taxpayers dearly.

“City traders also have every right to be annoyed with the Treasurer.

“Until the walkway is complete tourists visiting the Waterfront will be much less likely to make the journey into town – particularly in the wet.

“It is hopeless that yet another Government project hasn’t even begun by the time it was originally scheduled to be finished.

“This pattern of costly delays is a reoccurring theme with the Henderson Government.

“When the extension of Tiger Brennan Drive was first announced by Territory Labor in 2003-04, it was budgeted to cost $27.3 million.

“As of today not a metre of extra road had been added to Tiger Brennan Drive but it is now going to cost $110 million – at least.”

“Just this week we discovered the promised Marrara netball courts have jumped in cost from $4.8 million to $5.8 million - a 16% budget blow-out on the project in one year.

“The cost of delays often goes beyond financial pain. Cancer suffers in the Territory are still being forced to travel thousands of miles for radiation oncology despite a 2001 promise to build a radiation oncology unit.

“The victims of violent crime in the Territory must also be ruing this Government’s failure to deliver on its promise of safer streets.”

2008-07-11