This sign by the ‘shark bite’ along Buffalo Beach Road has been here over a year.
We started comparing how things used to be done to how they are done now, an exercise that could have been amusing but started to make us feel ill. Just consider these examples.
1. The “shark bite” along the Buffalo Beach road which still awaits repair 18 months later.
How things used to be done:
The local ‘boss’ orders the blokes/women to dump a couple of loads of sand from the Taputapuatea Stream cleanout into the ‘shark bite’, then to get two or three loads of boulders to cover it and secure the bank. The next day the guy who plants grass seed would call by and sprinkle some grass seed around. All is done within a week.
How things are done now:
The local ‘boss’ reads the Procedures Manual and realises he needs to first get a consent. He contacts TCDC Operations and asks them to get him a consent. TCDC Operations eventually fill in some forms and send these to TCDC consenting for approval. TCDC consenting like to cover their posterior, so send the application to TCDC legal for an opinion and TCDC legal eventually respond telling them to apply to WRC for a backup consent. TCDC consenting send forms off to WRC consenting who respond with requests for more information. In particular they want evidence of the high tide mark. The request ripples back and forward until eventually WRC consenting receive a photo of wet sand taken on a Council issued iPhone 4. WRC consenting then seek an opinion from WRC legal to ensure they are good to go and as far as we know after 18 months, that is where this matter sits. If you enquire from the TCDC as to status you get a meaningless email from TCDC Communications Control saying they are doing a brilliant job and it is still work in progress. They will let you know’ when the consents are received.’
2. The Taputapuatea Reserve Bund. This is a small bank to protect the reserve and neighbouring houses from flooding which can be quite damaging, especially for houses in the more swampy areas. The TCDC Works guy agreed it was a good idea and estimated it would only cost $10,000 to get done.
How things used to be done:
The TCDC Works guy discusses with the local ‘boss’ at morning tea and they agree it is a good idea. The local ‘boss’ orders the guys dumping sand from the Taputapuatea Stream to dump it on the reserve and gets a digger sent down to shape the bund. When this has finished, after a week or so, the guy who plants grass seed would call by and sprinkle some grass seed around. All done in a couple of weeks.
How things are done now:
The TCDC Works guy discusses with the local ‘boss’ at morning tea and they agree it is a good idea. The ‘boss’ tells the TCDC Works guy to read the Procedures Manual to ensure things are done right and the project doesn’t become a stuff up. The TCDC Works guy cannot find a section in the manual on “Bund Creation for Flood Control” so sends an email off to TCDC Procedures asking for advice. TCDC Procedures note the omission and commence a project to define how this should be done so they can document it. A year later at morning tea the local ‘boss’ asks the TCDC Works guy “what happened about that Bund project on the reserve”. The TCDC Works guy just shrugs.
3. Protecting Buffalo Beach from Storm Damage through a block wall along the entire beach.
How things used to be done:
The local ‘boss’ knows this needs to be done urgently so gets the Works team onto the job immediately.
How things are done now:
The Mayor tells the people at a public meeting that the town can have a block wall. The Mayor fails to tell the local ‘boss’ to get the work done and eventually diverts the budget onto Esplanade development work. When asked what he is doing about it the local ‘boss’ shrugs and directs you to the Mayor’s office.
