Don’t destroy the museum to save it
In The Southland Times of May 12, Clare Hadley, the new chief executive of the Invercargill City Council, wrote ‘‘I visited the (Southland) Museum and could see the passion and commitment of the staff working there . . . That Southlanders love the museum is clear in their response’’ to the museum’s closure (with three days’ notice) on April 12, 2018 and to its staff being made redundant. She goes on to state, ‘‘Retired Invercargill Architect Bob Simpson, has made a number of assertions. I have answered all his questions’’.
These comments reveal the unreliability of the advice Mrs Hadley is currently receiving.
To begin with, I am far from being retired. As my business card notes, I trade as an architect, builder and coordinator. I am a director of A4 Simpson Architects Ltd, A4 Design Build Ltd and A4 Somerset Development Ltd. I also manage three rental properties in Invercargill.
However, there are times to put other things aside and, in defence of what we hold dear, try to right wrongs.
While I act as co-ordinator of the Open the Museum campaign, our leadership team includes several very competent professionals, not to mention our many supporters. Those interested to join us can find a fuller and more accurate record of our communications with the council on our website www.openthemuseum.com
Despite her claim, Mrs Hadley has not answered the several questions asked by structural engineer Lou Robinson, quantity surveyor Lindsay Buckingham and myself. These contain specific criticisms of the 2013 Opus structural report, the 2018 review, and Mrs Hadley’s interpretation of both the Health and Safety Act and the Building Act.
In her report to the ICC requesting endorsement of her decision to withdraw the 41 staff from the building, Mrs Hadley stated that ‘‘The recommended decision would be easily reversible should different information come to pass’’.
We have provided this information and expect it to be acted upon.
Later in the opinion piece Mrs Hadley appears to contradict herself by stating, ‘‘Still some people seem to believe if we engage a new consultant, who decides the building isn’t earthquake prone the museum could reopen. With two reports already stating the building is earthquake prone, finding a consultant that disagrees isn’t going to result in the museum being reopened’’.
Why is Mrs Hadley determined to keep the museum closed?
In 1968 Southland raised journalist Peter Arnett reported an American general as saying, ‘‘It became necessary to destroy the town to save it’’, about the US bombing civilians in the Vietnam War.
Our museum saga reveals a similar madness. Neither the engineering report nor the review stated the buildings were earthquake prone. Only the Invercargill City Council can designate a building as earthquake prone. It may happen in 2020.
In a city wanting to create jobs and attract visitors, the closure of the museum (which attracts over 200,000 annually) is a devastating blow.
The staff and our community have had our well-loved heritage and arts museum effectively stolen from us.
Why the rush to close? Why disappoint hundreds of children at school holiday time? Why ignore our own council values? Why didn’t our councillors and board members insist on more time to consider such an important issue?
The decision seems to be based on a baseless fear of being prosecuted. Why did Paul Horner, or his boss Cameron McIntosh, not organise a geotechnical report and a new engineering assessment report in line with the 2017 regulations? We understand that the museum board asked Mr Horner in 2017 to get a current engineering report on the museum. Instead, he eventually got a three-page paper on March 18 2018.
On April 18, The Southland Times displayed a photo of the Eastern Southland Gallery in Gore, with curator Jim Geddes remarking that the building was in ‘‘pretty good nick’’ It was built in 1909. Around $800,000 will be spent later this year on improving a few things. Jim Geddes and his small team have developed an excellent range of arts and heritage venues in Eastern Southland.
I would urge our mayor, chief executive and councillors to follow the example set by Gore, bearing in mind the adage: ‘‘Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage’’.
Turn the museum lights back on, engage a competent structural engineer, and base future decisions on knowledge rather than fear.