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Lane Cove Tunnel massive cost to public
Thursday 21 January 2010
Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has accused Transport Minister David Campbell of misleading the public by attempting to create the impression that the Lane Cove Tunnel has had no financial impact on taxpayers.
Sydney Morning Herald, page 1.
"The failure of the Lane Cove and Cross City Tunnel has been a drain on the public purse and Minister Campbell should not attempt to rewrite history," Ms Rhiannon said.
The Lane Cove Tunnel owners received a $25 million compensation package from the NSW government. The Minister knows this is public money and he should withdraw his statement.
"This massive payout was negotiated in 2006 when the current Treasurer Eric Roozendaal was Roads Minister.
"In both the Lane Cove and the Cross City Tunnel projects the cost of the negotiating the tunnel deal, the planning approvals and making surface road changes was paid for by the public.
"The RTA clocked up huge management costs, including legal and consultancy fees running into millions of dollars for both tunnel projects.
"Then there is the high price of having the RTA, Treasury, Planning and other agencies managing the project and its fallout.
"Mr Campbell is able to get away with making these outlandish statements because his government has consistently refused to reveal the full cost details of these projects.
"Information on the Cross City Tunnel only became public after the Greens in the NSW Upper House were successful in having details of the contract publicly released.
"The Lane Cove Tunnel should not have been allowed to proceed after the exposure of the Cross City Tunnel failure.
"The modelling for these projects is designed to maximise profits rather than provide the best service to the public," said Ms Rhiannon.
For information: Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
