The Wellington Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling for a full council inquiry into how a straightforward library website project ended up costing ratepayers nearly $600,000, despite lacking basic functionality.

Alliance spokesman James Ross said:

“Not only did the library’s website cost 117 families’ entire annual rates bills, but you can’t even use it to sign up for the library. To call it a farce would be an understatement.”

“It’s been a week since the true cost was exposed. Beyond expressions of concern, what action have councillors actually taken to make sure this can’t happen again?”

“Wellingtonians are sick of hearing excuses about why projects failed without anyone ever been held accountable. If council think this spending is justified, they should have no problem showing their workings to a full inquiry.”