Back road repair costs double

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 653, 10 September 1996, Page 7

Back road repair costs double

Maru's Bend repairs that cost more than double the original contract price of $91,000 are a concern to the Waimarino Community Board. However, no action was called for by the board with regard to the contract on Croton's Road, Ruatiti. In his report on the matter to the board, roading asset manager Gerard Eckard, summarised the extra costs involved: $42,000 for an extra excavation of 7000m3 of material, $ 1 2,000 for extra cartage, $ 1 2,000 for blasting work; $29,000 for extra metal; and $3000 for slip elearance. The main reasons for the extra costs were the inability to carry out an exact survey and calculate the volumes involved. Shellrock was also discovered which necessitated the blasting work, and a slip occurred during the work "due to the inclement weather". "During the design stage it was very difficult to do an exact survey and calculation of the actual volumes that were to be involved due to the topography of the area. The Engineer was forced to issue several variation orders to close the gap between the theoretical design and the practical requirements of the construction site," said Mr Eckard. He said continuous logging operations were going on while the

contract was in progress and to keep the road open at all times considerably more metal was placed, leading to the extra metal cost of $29,000.

Board chairman Colin Webb said the council should have been aware of the geology and estimated the cost accordingly. He said there may have been contractors who accurately assessed the scope of the job and priced it on that basis, but then missed out because their price would have been higher. "I am concerned that they are not looking at any historical information which would show the type of problems they are likely to find," he said. "You've only got to ask someone who's worked down there before and they could tell you there' s shellrock there." Member Robert Horne said although there had been loss of continuity of staff with experience of the area, "you can't price on something you can't see". Also of concern was the delay in starting work until well into autumn. "Yet again the problemis thetime of year that they arecarrying outthese road works," said Mr Horne. "This type of work should be done in high summer, not high winter." "The ratepayer's left to pay because the job was done three months too late," said Mr Webb. ■