Leaky homes: The true Tauranga picture?

As usual, Mayor Crosby is a little bit short in the maths department (he should get a 12 digit calculator) as by my assessment when taking on board the reliable industry estimate of 89,000 homes with a total repair bill of $23 billion, Tauranga City share of this will be at least 5% of that because of its predilection to build the chilly-bin type of home, i.e. $1.15 billion in repair bills and if 25% is TCC ratepayers’ share under the Government scheme – that is potentially $260 million for starters, not $24 million.
Perhaps Mayor Crosby could explain precisely how he’s whittled down Council liability to that lower figure so that ratepayers and his fellow Councillors are clear about this. Is it achieved by Council slithering out from under, hiding its head in the sand and by putting up the private building certifiers’ protective shield? Just spell out how he reaches his conclusion for a change and be specific. Mr Crosby, as the Mayor of Tauranga, would not have been dragged into the loop of the six main centres affected by the leaky homes disaster just for the paltry sum of $24 million.
In a couple of years, TCC ratepayers will find out exactly what it’s really going to cost them and let me spell it out, it won’t be only $24 million, which is a fudged, unrealistic figure. This may be the annual interest bill but it certainly won’t be the capital sum involved. As the Minister of Building and Construction, Maurice Williamson said on rate increase “the amount involved will make your (ratepayers) eyes water.”
Oh, and to the unlucky Tauranga owners of leaky homes get ready to pick up the tab for 75% of the $1.2 billion repair bill, less whatever (if anything) that Tauranga City Council will contribute to your financial woes. Good luck to you if you are silly enough to believe what’s being spun and trundled out currently about the Government Scheme and the TCC plaudits for it which is certainly of no benefit to homeowners or ratepayers.
The above does not even take into account the scenario if homeowners elect to litigate and sue Council instead. Councillors should take on board that this disaster could be a major election issue, particularly as there has been no consultation with ratepayers about implications.
R Paterson, Matapihi.