Government seeks QLDC assurances on Lakeview - calls for increased transparency

Following details uncovered by the Crux investigation into the QLDC’s $2 billion Lakeview project, Local Government Minister Simon Watt has instructed the Department of Internal Affairs to seek assurances “that the project is progressing effectively.”

The Minister has released the following statment to Crux late yesterday (August 13):

“This Government has made it clear that it is committed to delivering better public services and getting councils back to basics. As part of that, I am introducing legislation where one of the objectives is to help councils to focus on financial prudence. Through this, ratepayers will benefit from increased transparency of council spending and improved council decision making.

“I encourage all councils to work with their communities to ensure they are being as transparent as possible with council decisions around spending and investment.

“I have instructed my officials at the Department of Internal Affairs to get in contact with the Queenstown Lakes District Council, to seek assurances that the project is progressing effectively.”

Source: Local Government Minister Simon Watt.

Crux put a number of key Lakeview questions to the Queenstown Lakes District Council on Monday (August 11). The council then refused to answer these questions by our deadline of Friday August 15, instead turning our questions into an official information request (LGOIMA) that gives QLDC 20 working days to decide if, and how, they will respond.

The final part of our ten part investigation will be published tomorrow, Friday August 15.