Clock ticking on Taihape buildings

Taihape building owners be warned: The clock is ticking.

The warning comes after a meeting in the town about the Rangitı¯kei District Council’s plans for earthquake-prone buildings.

Time is short, Taihape Community Board chairwoman Michelle Fannin said after the meeting.

‘‘I strongly suggest people who are concerned about this talk to the council and get to grips with the issues now so they can get ahead of the game.’’

The law was changed in July, arising out of the Christchurch earthquakes. It aims to better identify and manage earthquakeprone buildings.

Because almost all of Rangitı¯kei is in a high seismic risk zone, the time allowed for strengthening buildings is half that given in less risky parts of the country.

And within that category, there will be high-priority areas, such as central business districts in towns.

In Taihape’s case, because State Highway 1 passes through the middle of town, where many businesses are concentrated, engineers will likely look there first for priority unsafe buildings.

Such buildings must be identified in half the usual time, within 21⁄2 years, and owners must then strengthen or demolish them within 71⁄2 years. The standard of safety to be reached is 34 per cent of the new code.

Johan Cullis, the council’s environment and regulatory services team leader, said the 34 per cent figure was arrived at because it was deemed good enough to allow occupants to escape a ‘‘moderate’’ quake. Courtordered demolition was a last resort.

The first key date is November 7, when written submissions close. People who want to talk to the council can do so on November 9.

Finally, the council will debate everything it has heard, both orally and in writing, on November 30, before it makes decisions.