90% support for external investigation into QLDC financial failures
Over 1200 responses to Crux community survey - full results and comments
A Crux community survey into next steps to address multiple, multi-million dollar project failures by senior QLDC staff is pushing for a full external investigation to avoid future failures and hold those responsible accountable.
The survey ran for just three days but attracted 1,216 responses with 89.64% calling for a full external investigation. Only 5% called for an internal QLDC investigation and 2% said the past issues should be forgiven and forgotten. Over 300 respondents left detailed comments - all of which can be read in our attached full results and comments.
The main projects include the five year cover up of the $200 million (estimate) QLDC Shotover sewage plant failure back in 2020, hidden from the community (and causing significant public health risks) due to pressure to allow property developers to keep building at record rates, the much delayed luxury Lakeview project that represents a $100 million loss from ratepayer owned land worth around $80 million in 2025, the council’s $20 million purchase of a toxic house and land for a sports field, the first stage of the “road to nowhere” (or Lakeview) for $128 million, the council’s yet to be built new $60 million headquarters (Project Manawa) and a number of equally controversial smaller projects.
The full results and 339 comments have been sent to mayor John Glover this morning (January 19) for him to read and report back to the community on later this week.
Here’s a full copy of the detailed results and all of the comments. The survey remains open for those who still wish to add their input.
As a Queenstown Whakatipu ward councillor, I'm pushing for an independent review of the history leading to the current wastewater system underperfmance at both the Shotover treatment plant and Wanaka's Project Pure. I'm suggesting that a reviews terms of reference should focus on learning from these experiences, avoiding similar issues in the future, and improving processes, strategic, operational and crisis planning and management, delegations, decision-making, communications, and organisational culture, and saving us all money in the long-run.
Reviewing decision-making and specific decisions within the organisation should be wider than water services alone, although it would be a good place to start and is a matter of considerable urgency.
Let's see what other councillors say.