Washmill Lake audit report released
Posted Jan 22, 2015 08:41:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The city’s auditor general says the Washmill Lake underpass project was mismanaged and lacked accountability.
Larry Munroe said, not only did the project have huge cost overruns, but also many breakdowns in process, governance and control.
“You’ve got a lack of clarity on who the project manager is, you’ve got sometimes people who were in roles because their business unit might have had the budget,” said Munroe.
Munroe has made 55 recommendations to improve capital works in HRM, and CAO Richard Butts told Global Halifax the city has already acted on a number of them.
“We’ve implemented, or are almost finished implementing about 75 per cent of the recommendations already,” said Butts.
Munroe said the most significant factor that led to the project being $6-million over budget is that the municipality had never attempted this type and scale of project before.
He said the city should have a risk management officer.
Councillors are expected to debate the report at the next Audit and Finance Committee meeting.
The $16-million underpass near Bayers Lake opened about three years ago.
