Fears IT set-up half-baked

SCOTT MORGAN

The effectiveness of the new Auckland Council's proposed information technology set-up has super-city mayoral contender Len Brown deeply concerned.

The Auckland Transition Agency is tasked with bringing together the eight councils' telephone and computer systems by November 1, when the super-city becomes a reality.

While the agency hopes to have a single telephone service up and running by then, an agency spokesperson says no single computer system will be installed.

Instead, some of the current systems used by councils to deal with everything from rates collection to resource consent applications will be used, though some consolidation may take place in areas such as email.

Mr Brown says he's not convinced the agency's solution will work.

"It isn't sounding very promising at all. It sounds like there's going to be a lot of double handling and duplication where there's not a common system."

As mayor of Manukau city, Mr Brown says he's had plenty of experience with IT changes.

"We've done that twice in our council, so I know how complicated it can be.

"I don't want to be sitting there on November 1, if the community decides it, with a half-baked technology delivering all sorts of headaches and concerns in the community."

He says the agency should be providing updates and working in conjunction with existing councils on the issue.

Auckland City mayor John Banks gave a statement through a spokesman, saying Aucklanders have the right to expect the same level of services they do now, if not better.

"If not, we'll have a huge problem here."

Green MP Dave Clendon says he is worried IT problems could affect the new city's spatial plan, which outlines the council's vision on everything from environmental management to social issues and transport over a 20 to 30-year period.

"There's a high level of visual representation, like maps, in geographic information systems. Even if they're all using the same software, the management systems are likely to be different."

The cost of the IT integration project is yet to be finalised. But the agency could fund some of the cost through a government loan that the Auckland Council would be expected to pay back over time.

Mr Brown says the possibility of a Crown loan raises questions about how much forming the super-city will actually cost.

Initial estimates from the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance put the price at $120 million to $240m, though there hasn't been any recent update on those figures.

So far, the Auckland Council will have to repay about $34m in set-up costs, but that could just be the first of many loans ratepayers will have to foot the bill for.

"Surely we must be closer to a reasonable assumption about what the costs are," Mr Brown says.

Mr Banks says while he has no role in the formation of the super-city, if elected, he will make it work.

"The people of Auckland might feel some of the effects of the super-city set-up, but long-term it's a good thing for the city."

In its report, the Royal Commission noted it didn't envisage the new council's IT infrastructure being built from scratch.

- © Fairfax NZ News