Dear West Coast Regional Council,

Could you please advise on the status of this equipment ?

Local newspapers have been reporting the buoy had been lost, retrieved, but possibly damaged.

Did the first buoy cost $250,000 and what were the total expenses involved there ?
I understand the money came from the Westport flood scheme.

I believe it escaped and was replaced.
Was the original buoy repaired ?
If it was replaced then where is the first ?

What was the costs involved there ?
Are these buoys covered by insurance ?
Have the buoys escaped just the twice and what is being done to prevent a recurrence ?

When will the buoy be deployed again and will it be capable of ALL functions as first promoted ?

We are concerned. . .

Yours faithfully,

Kevin Smith