WELLINGTONS BUS FIASCO

Jim from Trentham

"A dozen contractors have walked away with over $1.6 million in the first eight months of Wellington's bus fiasco".
Does anyone accept the feeble explanations that have been expressed regarding this expenditure? ie. a council spokesman said the works were budgeted for and were focused on implementation and ongoing improvements. GWRC employs contractors, consultants etc depending on expertise... Barbara Donaldson said the expenditure was operational and refused to comment.
It's time these people in well paid jobs stood up and took responsibility and did something to justify their salaries - so what if it's operational? its all taxpayer/ratepayer money and we should be getting value for it, as well as knowing what it was spent on. Where are the ongoing improvements - or is it intended to destroy the bus service first then anything following will be an "improvement"?
Chris Laidlaw has previously said he would do little differently. Rhodes Scholar or not, perhaps he should read the post regarding "Commonsense" which was posted on Neighbourly last week.
Why do we need consultants when it seems "everyone else" knows the $1.6 million would have been better spent on recruitment and retention of staff on the front line who are expected to face the ire of unsatisfied patrons.
To Laidlaw, Donaldson and their colleagues I say - ride the buses and explain to patrons yourself why the service is such a shambles, get down to the grass roots and see what people have to put up with. If you can't do the job then go and look for another.