Unfortunately - and this is a typical Linux thing - so many multiply different that solve so many multiply different problems that it is close to useless.
Amiga datatypes have the same problem, as soon as you go out of their scope then you have to reinvent the wheel.
To replace it the quote is $1.5 million to $2 million. When asked why it hasn't been replace a spokesman said "because it just works". I hear that said about Linux, but this time it really is true.
"the computer and the associated system will be replaced at a cost of around $2 million"
It's the radio modems between the 19 sites that are the problem. According to the article it doesn't "just work" at all.
"Because they share the same frequency as our maintenance communications radios and operations maintenance radios - it depends on what we're doing - yes, they do interfere," Hopkins said.
If that happens, "we have to clear the radio and get everyone off of it for up to 15 minutes."
It would be possible to replace the modems with something like a raspberry pi which takes the data from the amiga and transmits the data over the internet instead, but then why do you need the amiga at all?
They are currently reliant on an ex pupil who set it up, that happens to still live in the area.
Without a breakdown of what they are going to spend the 2 million dollars on, it's hard to know whether it's value for money. The Amiga replaced an earlier computer, so it's very likely that a lot of the equipment is much older & also in need of replacement.
If a salesman comes in and says we can replace it all for 2 million dollars and we'll support it, or if you want to keep individual parts then you better write us a blank cheque and any problems will be on your own head then most people will pay the 2 million. The people making the decision are probably sick of the "sorry can't do any work, got to wait 15 minutes because of the air conditioning computer".