27 September 2013
Several years ago, one of the reasons I put forward for Len Brown not being re-elected mayor of Manukau was his support of an idiotic idea to build a white-water kayak course in Manukau, at a cost of $30m, while concurrently cutting costs by shelving plans for a swimming pool for the eastern suburbs - by far Auckland's fastest-growing region.
I thought that plan had died with the birth of the super city, but no, Brown the clown is back on the case, with it looking very likely that the insane idea will proceed. Fortunate for Len's pal Ferg* and his kayak business, but not so much for ratepayers.
In a country blessed with a coastline of 14,000 km - the tenth-longest, against our land area, which is only 75th - and more rivers than you could comfortably count, what kind of moron would build a white-water facility anywhere, let alone in the middle of a city?
White-water kayaking is such a minority sport that numbers aren't even available for it in New Zealand, yet here is a mayor of a city over seven billion in debt throwing millions away. Aside from the obscene cost of the facility, to be able to operate, it will need to have considerable staff to enable safe function, so we are also being stung for operating costs of over $1m each year.
Well played, Len!
*Len Brown and Ian Ferguson are first cousins.
Copyright © Alan Charman