SPENDING on public works projects will fail to meet the Government's target this year despite a commitment to end underspending on the infrastructure budget.
Secretary for Works James Blake admitted yesterday there would be a shortfall even though the Government had spent $20 million introducing a computerised project management system to improve planning.
He said the Government aimed to spend more than $22 billion on public works in the 1994-95 financial year, but construction sources believe about five per cent - $1 billion - will be left unspent.
Between January and March last year $1.5 billion worth of projects were deferred. From April to June schemes valued at $1.86 billion were held up.
These delays angered contractors who said even two or three months' delay makes it harder to source staff and materials, especially as prices for these goods were beginning to rise on the international market.
Computers have been installed in all the Works Branch departments and several other branches, including Economic Services, to keep track of 1,500 public works schemes to allow projects to be accelerated if others are delayed.