Wellington Water Cost of Leaks

Chris McCashin made this Official Information request to Wellington City Council

The request was refused by Wellington City Council.

From: Chris McCashin

Dear Wellington City Council,

It was recently reported that the cost of leaks in Wellington has increased from $1,500 to $4,932 per leak since 2021.

Are you able to provide a selection of invoices for the cost of these leaks and for them to include what the costs relate to. Ultimately I want invoices that outline the itemized costs to repair these leaks and compare these against an itemized invoice from 2021.

Where have these costs increases come from? By way of an example relating to a couple of leaks I have been past that Wellington Water have been working on are as follows.

100 metres of cones from the point of the leak down three different streets (suburban quiet street), 9 workers on site - 2 were working, six were standing around watching and one was sitting, temporary traffic lights and a traffic management vehicle. There was another example whereby there was a traffic management crew on a job in a dead end street?!

Ultimately how much of the costs are the own doing of Wellington City Council - Living wage, over regulation for traffic management, cone hireage etc etc etc

I am assuming Wellington City Council are asking these questions? Alternatively the overburden of compliance you put on these people have enabled them to game the system with nine workers on site?

So please provide an itemized cost for these leaks across the city.

Yours faithfully,
Chris

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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council

Kia ora 

  

Thank you for your email.  

The Assurance Team is experiencing incredibly high volumes of Official
Information Requests.  Please be assured your email has been received and
we will respond within 3 business days.

  

Please direct all general enquiries or anything urgent to our Contact
Centre on 04 499 4444 or email [1][email address]  

 

For Police CCTV requests, please send through to [2][email address

  

Many thanks 

Assurance Team

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]

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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council

Kia ora

Thank you for your email dated 12 March requesting information.

Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to provide a decision as soon as possible, but no later than 11 April, being 20 working days of receipt.

The reference number for your request is IRC-6162

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Kind regards

The Assurance Team
Email: [email address]
Wellington City Council | W Wellington.govt.nz | |

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

show quoted sections

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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council


Attachment IRC 6162 Correspondence from Wellington City Council Transfer Notification.pdf
274K Download View as HTML


Tēnā koe Mr McCashin

 

Please see attached correspondence from Wellington City Council.

 

Nga mihi

 

Danika Morris-Brown

Senior Advisor Official Information

Ara Whaimana | Strategy and Governance

Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council 
E [1][email address]  | W [2]wellington.govt.nz

 

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://wellington.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Official Information


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Kia ora Chris

 

Official information request regarding cost of leaks in Wellington

 

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information request
for the following information:

 

o It was recently reported that the cost of leaks in Wellington has
increased from $1,500 to $4,932 per leak since 2021.
o Are you able to provide a selection of invoices for the cost of these
leaks and for them to include what the costs relate to. Ultimately I
want invoices that outline the itemized costs to repair these leaks
and compare these against an itemized invoice from 2021.
o Where have these costs increases come from? By way of an example
relating to a couple of leaks I have been past that Wellington Water
have been working on are as follows.
o 100 metres of cones from the point of the leak down three different
streets (suburban quiet street), 9 workers on site - 2 were working,
six were standing around watching and one was sitting, temporary
traffic lights and a traffic management vehicle. There was another
example whereby there was a traffic management crew on a job in a dead
end street?!
o Ultimately how much of the costs are the own doing of Wellington City
Council - Living wage, over regulation for traffic management, cone
hireage etc etc etc
o I am assuming Wellington City Council are asking these questions?
Alternatively the overburden of compliance you put on these people
have enabled them to game the system with nine workers on site?
o So please provide an itemized cost for these leaks across the city.

 

Your request was formally transferred to Wellington Water from Wellington
City Council today (19 March 2024). We will endeavour to respond to your
request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 18 April 2024,
being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are
unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an
extension of that timeframe.

 

The response date shown takes into account:

 1. Good Friday (29 March 2024)
 2. Easter Monday (1 April 2024)

 

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us on email
[1][email address]. If any additional factors
come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate
to contact us so that these can be taken into account.

 

 

Ngā mihi 

 

Julia Glavovic   LGOIMA Administrator

Business Services

 
[2]Wellington Water
Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045
Level 4, IBM House, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
Wellington Water is owned by the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington
city councils, South Wairarapa District Council and Greater Wellington
Regional Council. We manage their drinking water, wastewater and
stormwater services.

 

References

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1. mailto:[email address]

Link to this

From: Official Information


Attachment image001.jpg
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Kia ora Chris,

Official information request regarding cost of leaks in Wellington.

Thank you for sending through this request dated 12 March 2024. On 19
March 2024, your request was transferred to us by Wellington City Council.

To ensure we respond to your request accurately, are you able to provide
us with the locations of the leaks you are referring to or rather, confirm
for us that you would like us to provide you with a breakdown of costs for
a ‘handful’ of leaks across the Wellington City area?

We would appreciate if you could provide your clarifications in writing by
emailing [1][email address]. Alternatively, if
you would prefer to clarify your request verbally, please call me during
business hours on 021 380 589. If you do not wish to clarify your request,
we ask that confirm this to us in writing by emailing the official
information address above.

Please note that any clarification or amendment of a request is considered
to be a new request, in accordance with [2]Section 13(7) of the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.

Ngâ mihi nui

Liam

 

 

Liam Davies (he/him)

Governance Coordinator  - Business Services

 
[3]Wellington Water
Tel 04 912 4400
Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045
Level 4, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
[4]www.wellingtonwater.co.nz

 
Wellington Water is owned by the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington
city councils, South Wairarapa District Council and Greater Wellington
Regional Council. We manage their drinking water, wastewater and
stormwater services.

 

 

From: Official Information <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:21 PM
To: [FYI request #26073 email]
Cc: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of your LGOIMA request - cost of leaks in
Wellington - ref: OIA IRO-645

 

Kia ora Chris

 

Official information request regarding cost of leaks in Wellington

 

I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your official information request
for the following information:

 

o It was recently reported that the cost of leaks in Wellington has
increased from $1,500 to $4,932 per leak since 2021.
o Are you able to provide a selection of invoices for the cost of these
leaks and for them to include what the costs relate to. Ultimately I
want invoices that outline the itemized costs to repair these leaks
and compare these against an itemized invoice from 2021.
o Where have these costs increases come from? By way of an example
relating to a couple of leaks I have been past that Wellington Water
have been working on are as follows.
o 100 metres of cones from the point of the leak down three different
streets (suburban quiet street), 9 workers on site - 2 were working,
six were standing around watching and one was sitting, temporary
traffic lights and a traffic management vehicle. There was another
example whereby there was a traffic management crew on a job in a dead
end street?!
o Ultimately how much of the costs are the own doing of Wellington City
Council - Living wage, over regulation for traffic management, cone
hireage etc etc etc
o I am assuming Wellington City Council are asking these questions?
Alternatively the overburden of compliance you put on these people
have enabled them to game the system with nine workers on site?
o So please provide an itemized cost for these leaks across the city.

 

Your request was formally transferred to Wellington Water from Wellington
City Council today (19 March 2024). We will endeavour to respond to your
request as soon as possible and in any event no later than 18 April 2024,
being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are
unable to respond to your request by then, we will notify you of an
extension of that timeframe.

 

The response date shown takes into account:

 1. Good Friday (29 March 2024)
 2. Easter Monday (1 April 2024)

 

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us on email
[5][email address]. If any additional factors
come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not hesitate
to contact us so that these can be taken into account.

 

 

Ngâ mihi 

 

Julia Glavovic   LGOIMA Administrator

Business Services

 
[6]Wellington Water
Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045
Level 4, IBM House, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
Wellington Water is owned by the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington
city councils, South Wairarapa District Council and Greater Wellington
Regional Council. We manage their drinking water, wastewater and
stormwater services.

 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
4. Wellington Water Website
http://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/
5. mailto:[email address]

Link to this

From: Chris McCashin

Dear Official Information,

Just a handful of leaks

However two specific ones are Emerson Street and Pateke Drive Porirua

And then whatever ones else you can send me

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCashin

Link to this

From: Official Information

Kia ora,
Our team are currently experiencing a high volume of requests and
appreciate your patience during this busy time.
Please note that we will be in touch with an acknowledgement to your
request as soon as possible, and that requests are due 20 working days
following the date we receive them.
Ngā mihi nui,
The LGOIMA Team.

Link to this

From: Official Information

Thank you Chris.

Please note the amended due date for this request is Tuesday 23 April.

The response date shown takes into account:

Good Friday (29 March 2024)
Easter Monday (1 April 2024)

We will be in touch with a response in due course.

Ngā mihi nui,

Liam Davies (he/him)
Governance Coordinator - Business Services

Tel 04 912 4400
Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045
Level 4, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
http://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/

Wellington Water is owned by the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils, South Wairarapa District Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. We manage their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Official Information


Attachment OIA IRO 645 Extension Notice.pdf
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Kia ora Chris,

Please see our extension notice for your request attached.

We will be in touch with our decision as soon as possible.

Ngā mihi nui,

Liam

Liam Davies (he/him)
Governance Coordinator - Business Services

Tel 04 912 4400
Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045
Level 4, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
http://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/

Wellington Water is owned by the Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils, South Wairarapa District Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council. We manage their drinking water, wastewater and stormwater services.

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Official Information


Attachment image001.png
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Good afternoon Chris

 

Unfortunately, the response to your LGOIMA request that was extended and
due today hasn’t been finalised due to staff changes and absences.

Please be assured that you will receive a response soon.

 

Many apologies for the delay.

 

regards

 

Leni A

Senior LGOIMA Advisor

 

 

Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045

Level 4, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt

[1]www.wellingtonwater.co.nz

 

 

References

Visible links
1. Wellington Water Website
http://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/

Link to this

From: Chris McCashin

Dear Official Information,

Just a follow up on this?

It has been months

Guess that probably mirrors the efficiency of Wellington Water

Please provide at earliest convenience

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCashin

Link to this

From: Chris McCashin

Dear Official Information,

A follow up on this? It has been months similar to how long it takes Wellington Water to fix leaks.

I just want some invoices not a leak fixed

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCashin

Link to this

From: Chris McCashin

Dear Official Information,

Can I please get this response urgently - it is months overdue

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCashin

Link to this

From: Official Information

Morena Mr McCashin

I am very sorry for the long delay to your LGOIMA response. I am following with the team that the information was requested from.

I will let you know soon.

Again, many apologies.

Regards

Leni Senior LGOIMA Advisor

Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045
Level 4, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt
http://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/

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Link to this

From: Official Information


Attachment image001.png
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Attachment OIA IRO 645 McCashin response 30 July.pdf
272K Download View as HTML


Good morning Mr McCashin

 

Attached is the response to your OIA request initially sent to Wellington
City Council.

 

I apologise for the time it has taken to provide a response to you.

 

Regards

 

 

Leni

Senior LGOIMA Advisor

 

Private Bag 39804, Wellington Mail Centre 5045

Level 4, 25 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt

[1]www.wellingtonwater.co.nz

 

 

 

 

 

 

From: BUS: Assurance <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2024 3:41 PM
To: Official Information <[email address]>
Subject: Request to transfer LGOIMA from Wellington City Council to
Wellington Water - Ref IRC-6162

 

Caution: This is an external email. Please take care when clicking links
or opening attachments.

 

Kia ora team

 

Wellington City Council received a request for information on 12 March
2024 from Mr Chris McCashin for the following information:

 

o It was recently reported that the cost of leaks in Wellington has
increased from $1,500 to $4,932 per leak since 2021.

Are you able to provide a selection of invoices for the cost of these
leaks and for them to include what the costs relate to.  Ultimately I want
invoices that outline the itemized costs to repair these leaks and compare
these against an itemized invoice from 2021. 

Where have these costs increases come from? By way of an example relating
to a couple of leaks I have been past that Wellington Water have been
working on are as follows.

100 metres of cones from the point of the leak down three different
streets (suburban quiet street), 9 workers on site - 2 were working, six
were standing around watching and one was sitting, temporary traffic
lights and a traffic management vehicle.  There was another example
whereby there was a traffic management crew on a job in a dead end
street?!

Ultimately how much of the costs are the own doing of Wellington City
Council - Living wage, over regulation for traffic management, cone
hireage etc etc etc.

I am assuming Wellington City Council are asking these questions?
Alternatively the overburden of compliance you put on these people have
enabled them to game the system with nine workers on site?

So please provide an itemized cost for these leaks across the city.

 

Wellington City Council believes that this request is more suited to
Wellington Water and we are therefore seeking to transfer the request in
full to Wellington Water, pursuant to section 12(b)(ii) of the LGOIMA
1987, as the information is believed by the person dealing with the
request to be more closely connected with the functions of another local
authority.

 

Please advise if you accept this transfer and I will provide the formal
documents to complete the transfer.

 

Nga mihi

 

Danika Morris-Brown

Senior Advisor Official Information

Ara Whaimana | Strategy and Governance

Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Wellington City Council 
E [2][email address]  | W [3]wellington.govt.nz

 

References

Visible links
1. Wellington Water Website
http://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://wellington.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Chris McCashin

Dear Official Information,

This took four months to provide?!

A complaint is being made to the Ombudsman and I believe given the inability for Wellington Water to do anything with competence at the moment this is now more important than ever.

Wellington Water is a CCO owned by councils to provide water services
As a CCO you are funded by the ratepayer
You have a monopoly on the service and are a public service with recent reporting showing a mismanaged mess over there so this information is needed for public accountability
Good governance and legal compliance is required so information is needed

And trust - each and every day as rates go up ten fold every year our services get worse and you hide behind this stuff whilst you fail to deliver anything

Now more than ever as the Wellington Region is bankrupt this information must be provided in accordance with Public Interest

Yours sincerely,

Chris McCashin

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Wellington City Council only: