Quick fix for hospital’s quake-prone buildings
External consultants have been hired to fast track work required to address buildings deemed earthquake prone at Taranaki Base Hospital.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the hospital’s multi-million dollar Project Maunga redevelopment could be completed within five years, Taranaki District Health Board chief executive Rosemary Clements has said.
Four clinical buildings, two office buildings and three tunnels were provisionally identified as earthquake prone by three engineering firms in a review commissioned by the Taranaki District Health Board as part of Project Maunga.
Clements said once the review was completed and the reports were finalised the DHB would be able to confirm which buildings were earthquake prone.
The consultants, who worked with Canterbury DHB after the Canterbury earthquakes, had been engaged to develop a seismic risk management plan, Clements said.
‘‘In the short term the DHB will be working with expert structural engineers and project management consultants RCP to prepare seismic risk management plans for each building.
‘‘These will identify reasonable interim or remedial works options that can be undertaken over the next few months,’’ Clements said.
Meanwhile, Clements said the second stage of the hospital redevelopment, which began in 2016, could be completed by 2023.
Consideration of which buildings and services would be included in stage two, including the construction of new clinical areas, would be made as part of the business case process.
Clements said construction was expected to begin in 2021.
‘‘Our aim is to have stage two completed by the end of 2023, or sooner.’’
Hospital buildings are held to a higher standard than commercial or residential sites, and remedial works must be carried out in 12 and a half years rather than 25 years.
She said the DHB had a preliminary intention to include all of the clinical areas in stage two.
‘‘Inclusions are yet to be determined and these details will be developed as part of the indicative business case process.’’
Clements said capital funding for the work would come from a mix of internally generated funds, donations from the community and corporate bodies and Crown equity funding.
‘‘Taranaki DHB will need to prioritise DHB funds to support the development of the business cases and preliminary works incidental to the building of stage two of the hospital.
‘‘Some DHB staff and resources will be involved to support the development of the business case, which will be in addition to their day-to-day activities.’’
The New Plymouth District Council commissioned earthquake risk assessments in 2011 but no Taranaki Base Hospital buildings were identified.
However, the Earthquake Prone Building Amendment Act was introduced in 2017 as well as a change in soil risk categorisation.
The buildings need to be able to withstand a one-in-2500-year earthquake, and to be operational within hours of a one-in-500 earthquake.