BISHOPDALE RATEPAYERS FUND $84,000 REPORT THAT CONCLUDES REPORTS ARE UNDERFUNDED
The report recommends a follow-up report. The follow-up report will cost more than the first one.
Bishopdale ratepayers have funded an $84,000 Christchurch City Council report whose central finding is that the council is not spending enough on reports.
The 142-page document, commissioned in February and delivered last week by a Wellington consultancy nobody in Bishopdale has heard of, recommends a second report to scope the cost of producing reports. It does not recommend fixing the footpath outside the Bishopdale Mall, which was the original tip-off.
Lorraine Pethrick, 71, who has lived on Greers Road since the late seventies, said she'd read the executive summary twice and still couldn't tell what it was for. "Eighty-four grand. For what. They've spelt Bishopdale wrong on page six. It says Bishopsdale. We're not a cathedral, love."
A second ratepayer, Murray Kett, said he'd rung the council and been told the report was "a strategic input into the wider reporting framework". Murray said he asked what that meant and the woman "went quiet for a bit and then transferred me to a different quiet woman".
A Christchurch City Council spokesperson confirmed the report was "a foundational piece" and that the follow-up report, currently out for tender, was expected to cost between $90,000 and $110,000 depending on scope. Asked whether anyone had read the first report, the spokesperson said the question would be "taken on notice".
The footpath outside the Bishopdale Mall remains cracked. A cone has been placed on it. The cone, according to council records, is on its third report.
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Reader Letters
Garry (Halswell)
Back in my day, you only needed one report and two people to get the bloody work done. Now it’s reports about reports. Where’s the progress?
Margaret_F
Reminds me of when they commissioned that study to decide which shade of brown to paint the town hall. Never heard back on that one either.
BarryBishopdale
They spelt Bishopdale wrong?! Christ, it's like they don't even live here. What's next, petition to name it Bishopshovel?
tired_in_riccarton
All this money on reports and still can't fix the footpath that's more cracks than concrete. Good use of our money, as always. 🙄
couchgremlin
Lol reports funded by reports. What a loop.
Sandra McKenzie
I did some digging and apparently the company doesn't even exist on the Companies Office website. Fishy, if you ask me.
Francis.P
@Sandra McKenzie Maybe they only register if they're actually doing any real work. Classic consultant move!
Trev_Hornby
Love how the council spokesperson practically said "We'll get back to you on that one" about actually reading it. Top tier non-answer.