Auditor General says "no" over rubbish issue

Calls for an investigation into the decision-making process of Auckland City Council in awarding the island's new waste contract have been thrown out.

Waiheke Community Board, the Waiheke Island Community Planning Group and other islanders had asked the Auditor General to examine how the waste contract came to be awarded to Transpacific Industries.

But the office of the Auditor General has now sent out letters saying its initial inquiries have shown no wrongdoing so it will not be taking the matter further.

The letter says the office has reviewed council's decision-making process and the Auckland Transition Agency's decision to confirm council's award.

The office also looked at the probity adviser's investigation of the canvassing allegation and Clean Stream's subsequent disqualification from the tender process.

The letter says council reports adequately addressed concerns over changes to a new provider, the fit with council's waste management plan, the financial capability of tenderers, the operation of the transfer station, and sustainability and environmental issues.

The office says there is no point in any further investigations and concludes, "In our view, the council made a good effort to address concerns raised during the process as they were raised."

Commenting on the response, Waiheke Community Board chairman Tony Sears said the community felt it had not been heard but the office's decision not to proceed fitted its role of assessing legal concerns rather than moral ones.

"It's what I expected. I don't think there's much more we can do. It's sad."

- Waiheke Marketplace