Action on irrigation errors to be vetted

Press, 8 March 1984, Page 3

Action on irrigation errors to be vetted

PA Wellington Action taken to deal with the errors in South Island irrigation costings will be vetted by a Parliamentary sub-committee. The chairman of the Public Expenditure Committee, Mr lan McLean, told reporters yesterday that a sub-committee had been instructed to report on whether the investigation and actions taken had been adequate. The decision was made because it was a matter of concern regarding the use of taxpayers’ money, he said.

The investigation would be based on the work already done and a review of the Ministry’s project management to be undertaken by the international cor-

poration, Bechtel. After costing errors in some irrigation schemes the State Services Commission transferred staff. The sub-committee is chaired by Mr Michael Cox. Mr McLean said the subcommittee would examine the results of earlier investigations and the Bechtel review and decide “whether they are adequate and whether the action taken as a result was adequate. “It is a vetting role. The sub-committee will look at detail in any areas it considers the consultants have not dealt with adequately or are outside their terms of reference.”

It was necessary, he said, to make sure previous investigations were done properly.