And watchdogging our councils.

In ‘another day at the office’, BayBuzz recently received a concern from a council employee that the the sprinkler systems intended to protect collections (and lives) at both MTG and the under-construction HB Regional Museum Research and Archives Centre were not able to function properly – it was alleged water pressure was too low in both cases.

So, we inquired of Napier City Council, present custodian of the valuable artifacts. Here’s the response:

With regards MTG:

“There was an historical issue with the Napier MTG sprinkler system that was resolved several years ago. Biennial sprinkler inspections and testing are carried out, which was undertaken recently with the following outcome:

• 17 April Biennial sprinkler inspection picked up a potential issue with water supply pressure. Two days of pressure loggers and monitoring (for the week of 28 April)
• 13 May Water pressure testing was completed and sent to Aon for review and advice on any next steps
• 21 May Aon reported back that the biennial tests were likely an aberration, possibly caused by work on the network, or unusually high draw offs – they recommended testing by the Waters Team
• 26 May Water flow testing and another sprinkler test were undertaken and it was confirmed that the water supply is adequate for system flows and pressure.”

So, apparently no remedial action required; NCC appears to be on the case and says not the worry with regard to MTG.

With regard to the new HB Regional Archives Centre in Hastings:

“When testing the sprinkler system in the new facility it was confirmed that the water supply pressure was not sufficient to meet the needs of the sprinkler system, this was a known potential. 

“A pump is currently being installed which will rectify the water supply pressure and the sprinklers will be fully functional prior to any objects being relocated to the new facility.”

So, in this case, HDC is overseeing construction. Potential issue and solution identified. Watch this space.

The new facility is due to open early next year. The Centre will hold a collection with about 90,000 items, around 6000 of which are Māori taonga.

Watchdogging our councils

This episode is typical of the ‘tips’ BayBuzz receives from readers and ratepayers with some regularity, usually concerning a perceived council malfeasance or other dubious conduct of one sort or another.

We can’t look into them all – and honestly, some seem pretty far-fetched – but in our ‘watchdog’ role we do try to check out those that might carry major consequence.

Faulty sprinklers may or may not be a big deal, unless a collection worth millions goes up in flames.

And that’s the tip of the iceberg as we previously noted in an article last year:

“Over the next three years, our five councils will spend collectively about $700 million on operations and borrow and spend over $1.2 billion more on infrastructure. And there’s much more to come after that.

“Who’s going to follow the money? Monitor how efficiently and effectively it is spent? Assess the thoroughness and transparency of the decision-making processes involved? Look for opportunities to save ratepayer money?

“Our councillors themselves?”

We argued the stakes were so high and councillors so ill-equipped that Hawke’s Bay should have one independent ‘auditor general’ with the mandate to ‘watchdog’ all our five councils. Here’s that article. What do you think?