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Council considers delaying flood fix

Cape York's largest council says it may have to postpone flood repairs because of funding rules that require the work to be outsourced to external companies.

Cook Shire councillors will discuss the issue at meetings this week, after lobbying the Federal Government to allow the council to run its own repair projects.

Deputy Mayor Penny Johnson says millions of dollars are at stake.

"The most saving that we could expect the Australian taxpayer to enjoy could be in the realm of that 18 to 20 million dollar figure ... depending on the model that may be used but if it was a fully external organisation completely undertaking all that work, then we would expect that it would cost considerably more," she said.

She says an independent analysis shows the benefits of allowing remote councils to run their own repair projects.

"This was recognised in the third report to the Australian Government from the Reconstruction Inspectorate and that was delivered to them in February 2012, so earlier this year," she said.

"It certainly does recognise some councils' ability to be able to undertake work and actually deliver that best value for money, because we are considering the Australian taxpayer."


- ABC

© ABC 2012

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