Local firm ‘discarded’ after 23 years
A maintenance contract worth tens of millions of dollars has been sent offshore by Auckland Council, despite being held by the same Auckland firm for 23 years.
Recreational Services has maintained some of north Auckland’s parks, sporting fields and nature strips, in some capacity, since 1994. They have a history of employing disabled workers, and have often subsidised maintenance work for north Auckland community groups.
But, as part of an initiative called Project 17, Auckland Council has decided to amalgamate its open space maintenance contracts with its community facilities maintenance contracts across the city. The same company that cuts the grass on a sports field will now also be cleaning the toilets and providing security.
Recreational Services was unsuccessful in its application for this new expanded contract and, on June 30, it will be taken over by Australian company Ventia.
Auckland Council head of contracts and supply management Heidi Walkley said Recreational Services was unsuccessful because it could only perform a portion of the work the new contracts include.
‘‘We’re combining some areas of our business that have never been combined before to ensure that there are efficiencies. Now a portion of that potentially could have been delivered by Recreational Services but, for us it was about the holistic management and the outcome for all of
‘‘We are doing things quite differently.’’ Heidi Walkley
these combined Walkley said. services,’’
Many local politicians are unhappy about the decision to remove a local business from the contract.
Auckland councillor for the North Shore Ward Richard Hills was dismayed at the change from a trusted local contractor. ‘‘I’m very disappointed because I think Recreational Services have done a fantastic job.’’
A written statement from all four North Shore local board chairs; Danielle Grant, Grant Gillon, Julia Parfitt and Lisa Whyte, said it was a concern that the move has meant a focus away from a ‘‘local perspective’’.
The criteria breakdown for how Council’s new contracts were awarded was 40 per cent price, 20 per cent methodology, 20 per cent resources and capabilities, 20 per cent innovation and value add. No consideration was given to whether an applying firm was New Zealand owned.