Timaru to draw on Chch pool

Owners of earthquake-prone commercial buildings in Timaru will be able to draw on the wealth of knowledge gained from Christchurch’s rebuild.

New Zealand Institute of Building chief executive Malcolm Fleming said the timing meant work would probably begin on Timaru buildings just as rebuild work was finishing in Christchurch.

There would be plenty of earthquake-experienced workers from the city looking for more work then, he said.

His comments come as the Timaru District Council moves to implement the earthquake-prone building provisions of the Building Act.

The process, which will take place over the next 25 years, should ensure the safety of buildings when the next moderate earthquake happens.

Fleming said like many districts, Timaru would soon undergo the process of having its earthquake-prone buildings identified.

Identification is the initial stage of the process, which the council says will begin this year.

Earthquake-prone commercial buildings and multi-unit residences will then be assessed.

Earthquake-prone building provisions apply to non-residential buildings - such as offices, shops and theatres - and some larger residential buildings.

To be deemed earthquakeprone, residential buildings must be at least two storeys high, and either contain three or more household units, or be used as a hostel, boarding house or other specialised accommodation.

The owner of any building, or part of a building, that is not up to 34 per cent of the standard required in a new building will have to display a notice saying it is earthquake-prone.

They then have 121⁄2 years for priority buildings, or 25 years for non-priority buildings, to bring the building up to this minimum standard. The council has said it had no idea how many structures were likely to be earthquake-prone.