Kingsford Smith Drive delay costs unclear says opposition

Ratepayers will not know the true cost of Kingsford Smith Drive for years to come and the Lord Mayor has apologised for misleading councillors over the issue this week.

RATEPAYERS will not know the true cost of the Kingsford Smith Drive delay for years to come and the Lord Mayor has apologised for misleading councillors over the issue this week.

Opposition councillors are struggling to confirm the cost that ratepayers will have to wear for the delay to the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade despite two weeks of asking for it.

Motorists steer clear of Kingsford Smith Drive

Last week Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the contingency figure for the road project was “publicly available information” but this week admitted it was commercial-in-confidence.

“I am prepared to apologise in some respect,” he said.

“With all major contracts ... there is a significant amount of information. That information was commercial in confidence.”

Cr Quirk has consistently stated the delay would not change the $650 million contract price.

The contingency is the amount included within that $650 million contract price specifically for cost blowouts, which is not paid out to the contractor unless required.

Contingencies are standard practise in contracts for large capital works projects.

Cr Quirk said although it was not provided to councillors in writing, it was given to them during a spoken briefing on November 17, 2015.

Cr Cassidy wanted to know if the council would pay for the delay from the contingency or if Lendlease would pick up the tab.

“In a well-managed project the contingency should never be used, this administration couldn’t organise a party in a pub, let along a road project,” he told Quest Community News.

“The ratepayers will be paying for this project for generations and won’t know its true cost for years to come.”

Kingsford Smith Drive as seen from a Hamilton balcony.

Last week, when the opposition asked him for the contingency figure, Cr Quirk said it was “publicly available” in the papers from when the council approved the contract.

“I don’t intend to go back and do your own homework for you when the information has already been given to you,” he said.

This week, deputy opposition leader Jared Cassidy tabled those papers, which do not include the contract or contingency figures.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk apologised to the Brisbane City Council meeting this week for misleading the chamber.