21 April 2021
Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Museum project delays
Enquiry
In light of the Museum reopening delay announcement, we would appreciate a response before midday to the following questions:
- What are the cost implications of the announced delay?
- What issues surfaced during the pre-construction phase and when specifically, where they found?
- If the issues were "unreinforced pumice masonry structures, a very heavy roof and challenging geothermal ground conditions" weren't those discovered much earlier in the process? For example, the heavy roof was a topic of discussion at council meetings in 2019.
- Why were issues not discovered when the museum was 3D scanned?
- Is the plan still to restore and reopen? Or are there concerns the museum may not reopen?
- Is there a possibility of future delays?
- What additional expertise has been brought in?
- What is the current total amount of funding committed to the project? Which parties have contributed, and what amount did each pledge?
- Where does the committed funding stand? Is it still secured or is there a risk it could be withdrawn?
- Would we be able to speak to Lizzie Marvelly about the delay, and the challenges this poses for the future of the Museum? (questions included what ongoing engagement with the public was planned and what had happened with taonga that were in the museum.)
Response
From Operations Group Manager Jocelyn Mikaere:
What are the cost implications of the announced delay?
The costs associated with additional work we need to undertake are currently within the project contingency and budget.
What issues surfaced during the pre-construction phase and when specifically, where they found?
The issue that surfaced in mid-2020 was whether the design in the foundation and atrium area could be constructed safely, without damaging heritage features and without high risk of cost and time delay. It was agreed that alternative solutions exist and should be investigated in order to lower risk.
In addition, the geothermal nature of the museum site has always been a challenge but we have seen increased activity and ground temperatures under the building which started in early 2020. These were thought to be related to a failed geothermal bore which was then closed and an alternative bore drilled in a new location. However, activity and temperature elevation have continued and further investigation is required.
If the issues were "unreinforced pumice masonry structures, a very heavy roof and challenging geothermal ground conditions" weren't those discovered much earlier in the process? For example, the heavy roof was a topic of discussion at council meetings in 2019.
[NOTE TO REPORTER: for your understanding: the release did not say we have just discovered the unreinforced masonry structures, heavy roof and challenging geothermal ground conditions. These were cited as examples of the challenges that exist with this project. The release stated that during the course of the design work, buildability and risk questions arose that require further investigation and advice. See above re these.]
Why were issues not discovered when the museum was 3D scanned?
The 3D scan is a pictorial design tool, not an analysis tool. It does not identify technical issues.
Is the plan still to restore and reopen? Or are there concerns the museum may not reopen?
The plan remains to earthquake strengthen, restore and reopen.
Is there a possibility of future delays?
There is always a possibility of delays with any project, that's why it's important to do all the preparatory investigations and work up-front to try and minimise that potential.
What additional expertise has been brought in?
Additional structural engineering, geothermal and geotechnical experts.
What is the current total amount of funding committed to the project? Which parties have contributed, and what amount did each pledge?
Funding breakdown can be found HERE on the museum project page on Council's website (see THIS LINK) which has extensive information about the project.
Where does the committed funding stand? Is it still secured or is there a risk it could be withdrawn?
Funders have been informed and we have had no indication of any change in commitment.
Additional information
Regarding ongoing engagement with public: Museum educational programmes, historical tours of Government Gardens (Beyond the Walls tours) are ongoing and as per p3 of Daily Post story published today, taken from a response to a question on social media from a Daily Post reader:
During the next few years the Director and her team will be working on extensive community engagement, conservation and exhibition design programmes.
All of the exhibitions that were in the Museum have been de-installed and those spaces need to be completely redesigned before taonga can go back into the building for opening.
All of the Museum's other offerings (education programmes, public programmes, outside the walls daily tours, retail, hospitality etc) will also need to be redeveloped.
This exhibition redesign project is the largest the Rotorua Museum has ever undertaken.
Re the collection: As has previously been reported, the museum collection is in specialised storage facilities in Rotorua and elsewhere, including Te Papa and Auckland War Memorial Museum, for safekeeping.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: MSD Accommodation Suplements data
Enquiry
I am doing a story about the accommodation supplement which will run tomorrow. I caught comment from Steve a while ago, but the story got a bit lost in the rat race however it will now be published. Can you check these comments are still okay?
Info:
Nearly $3 million a week is spent on supplements helping thousands of people in the Bay of Plenty, even those working full time - keep a roof over their head.
Thousands across the region qualify for the Accommodation Supplement - a benefit to help someone pay for rent, board, or costs of owning a home.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development showed that $2,907,599 a week was handed out across the region in Accommodation Supplements in last financial quarter of last year.
This was up from $2,769,144 a week in the quarter ending in September, and $2,435,269 a week ending in March.
Across the region, 32,469 people receive the accommodation supplement, with over 14,880 in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Social Development.
This was followed by Rotorua where over 8,500 (8,592) people received this support.
The grants shot up by 3729 across the region in a year - 1845 in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, and 1254 in Rotorua.
However, there was a slight dip in the number of grants given between December and January.
Accommodation costs, income, assets, family status, and residential region are taken into account to determine how much someone gets.
The most someone living in Tauranga can get is between $165 and $305, including solo parents with two or more children.
The median rent in Tauranga is $580 and $520 in the Western Bay of Plenty
The most someone can get in Rotorua is between $80 and $160 while the median rent is $465.
Comments [from Mayor Chadwick provided following original request]:
Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said the numbers were a reflection of a "very serious situation" for the city and region.
She said it was of "critical importance" for Rotorua to get specific solutions, and the council was working directly with all Government agencies to ensure that Rotorua is made an urgent priority.
"The metrics were poor prior to covid-19 and have been manifestly exacerbated by the pandemic."
She said council's 2021 - 2031 Long-Term Plan, to be released this month, has a clear focus on confronting some of the district's most pressing issues, and the community feedback will help shape elected member's decisions over the next few years.
Response
Updated response from Mayor Steve Chadwick:
The numbers are reflective of Rotorua's serious housing and social issues and we've been lobbying for some time now for a better coordinated all-of-Government response, and for Central Government agencies to work with council, iwi and other community stakeholders on Rotorua-specific solutions.
We need better managed emergency housing placements and facilities, we need community safety issues to be addressed, and we need to work on a pipeline of social and other housing.
We've seen Housing Minister Megan Woods and Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni talking about Rotorua's issues in the media this week, and I'm really hopeful that Minister Woods' response to our calls to send Central Government agency representatives to Rotorua to work with us will see some of the change we need within the coming weeks.
But the work won't finish there - we will need to keep working on solutions to our wider housing and social challenges with our partners. That's why housing and community safety are key planks of our proposed 2021-31 Long-term Plan. We agree with the community that these are absolute priorities for our district and while they aren't Council's alone to solve, we need the mandate and resourcing to enable us to contribute and work effectively with our partners on solutions.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Weather callouts
Enquiry
Could you please tell me whether the council had to deal with any weather-related incidents last night?
Response
The following information was provided:
Council received a report of a tree that had fallen and was blocking one lane of Hamurana Road, at around 1.30am this morning. Fulton Hogan attended the incident and cleared the tree.