Water meters report to be deep dived
By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure” is the underlying message from a report on the water meter trial in Methven.
And what comes next will be examined in depth at a council workshop in August.
The Ashburton District Council was presented with the initial results of the water metering pilot trial in Methven on Wednesday, along with a recommendation to re-prioritise the work programme to accelerate pipeline renewals on the town’s water supply.
Mayor Neil Brown moved to leave the item on the table and “pick it back up after we have had a workshop on the report”.
“There is a lot of information in there we would like to get a better understanding on, and we just haven’t got the time today."
Deputy mayor Liz McMillan supported the motion.
“There is a lot of information in there and I think it’s going to be really beneficial to work through it quite slowly and go through everything.”
She also requested the Methven Community Board be invited to the workshop.
Chief executive Hamish Riach said that as the report was presented at an open public meeting, the workshop would also be open to the public.
The council had allocated $1 million for a pilot water meter trial in Methven 2021, which was identified as the scheme with the highest water loss.
After some Covid- related delays in the supply chain, most of the 1213 water meters were installed by the end of 2022.
The trial aimed to analyse the benefits of universal water metering for asset and demand management, without plans for future volumetric charging, in anticipation of a future rollout of meters in Ashburton and Rakaia.
That rollout was not included in the long-term plan as the data from the Methven trial wasn’t available in time.
The report tabled on Wednesday concluded that most water loss in Methven occurs in the public network and highlighted the need for regular leak detection and rep
Poll: Should we be giving the green light to new mining projects? 💰🌲
The Environmental Protection Authority announced this week that a proposed mine in Central Otago (near Cromwell) is about to enter its fast-track assessment process. A final decision could come within six months, and if it’s approved, construction might start as early as mid-2026.
We want to know: Should mining projects like this move ahead?
Keen to dig deeper? Mike White has the scoop.
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53.2% Yes
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46.8% No
‘Tis the season to not get scammed ...
As Christmas gift shopping moves increasingly online, scammers are ramping up their activity across the country.
Dunedin’s Investigation Support Unit is seeing more and more people fall victim to scams and other fraudulent activity, particularly on Facebook Marketplace.
There are a few ways to avoid the scams and keep yourself safe doing online trades this holiday season, says Southern District Service Delivery Manager Senior Sergeant Dalton.
🔒 “A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created. If it’s very recent, there is a higher risk that they have just created this account for a one-off fake item.”
🔒 Another important step is to make sure the seller’s profile name and bank account name match up. “We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member - that’s a huge red flag."
🔒 “When you’re selling, never trust a screenshot anyone sends you showing that payment has been made. Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through."
🔒 “Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage."
🔒 "If you’re buying a car, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it.”
A reminder: Suspicious activity can be reported on 105
Turn Wallpaper Scraps into Beautiful Blossoms
These blossoms made from Resene wallpaper left over after decorating will mean your décor will be blooming gorgeous, no matter the season. Find out how to create your own wallpaper flowers with these easy step by step instructions.
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