Queensgate shoppers on notice
Signs explaining the earthquakeprone status of parts of Queensgate Shopping Centre had to be moved to more prominent locations across the mall so shoppers were fully informed of its quake-rating.
The Lower Hutt mall suffered extensive damage during the November 2016 Kaiko¯ ura earthquake. A section of its parking building and a cinema were subsequently demolished.
Hutt City Council resilience manager Kim Kelly said stickers declaring that parts of the mall earthquake-prone were placed on the building some time ago.
However, the mall’s owner, Stride Property, was recently told the stickers had to be ‘‘a bit more obvious’’ so that shoppers are aware of the site’s status.
Stride, however, said council officers were responsible for placing the stickers, and denied there had been a request to make them more prominent.
Kelly said the mall consisted of 10 buildings, three of which were less than 34 per cent of the seismic strength of a new building.
Stride had resource consent to fix one of the buildings and was in the process of getting consent for the other two.
Although Stride had until 2033 to make the necessary repairs, Kelly said the council wanted the work done as soon as possible.
She was confident Stride was doing everything possible to bring the building up to standard.
Stride development manager Mark Luker said seismic strengthening would take about 12 months. The aim was to cause as little disruption as possible to retailers and shoppers, especially over the Christmas period.
Work was also expected to begin early next year replacing the car park that was demolished after the earthquake. That would take about a year.
Once that was completed, work would begin on a replacement cinema, which could be open by Christmas 2020.
The cost of the repairs is being met by insurance but he declined to say how much the sum was.
Luker said Stride had been advised by some of the best engineers in the country that the mall was safe.
Retail general manager Roy Stansfield said despite the problems caused by the quake, the mall was performing well, with turnover steadily increasing. Kiwi actress Thomasin McKenzie has been featured in Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Talent list for 2018.
The list recognises 20 young stars on the rise, ‘‘whom everyone in the industry is clamouring to work with.’’ The website made special mention to the ‘‘top-notch projects’’ McKenzie has on the horizon, including roles in Jojo Rabbit; The True History Of The Kelly Gang, The King and Netflix film Lost Girls.
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Last year’s list included nowsuperstars Milly Bobby Brown, Timothe´e Chalamet, Katherine Langford and Yara Shahidi.
McKenzie was recently nominated for the Breakthrough Actor category at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, for her role in Leave No Trace.