Reprieve for quake-risk buildings
The Government will review the earthquake-prone building system and extend deadlines for seismic strengthening work, providing some relief for councils and building owners facing a looming crisis.
Many building owners cannot afford to fix them and some councils face onerous enforcement obligations.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced that deadlines would be extended by four years.
“Councils and building owners have told me that many buildings will not meet their deadlines due to the high costs involved, further complicated by cumbersome heritage rules and ownership structures,” he said. “Without change, a significant number of buildings could sit empty which would have a devastating impact on the economy ... A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that gets in the way of doing business and getting things done.”
A review of the system was previously scheduled for 2027, but terms of reference for an earlier review would be considered by Cabinet next month, Penk said. “The Government has decided to bring this forward to provide greater certainty and this work will begin immediately.”
These changes required an amendment to the Building Act 2004 and Penk said they planned for a bill to be passed before the end of the year.
“The review will be extensive and consider the appropriate risk settings to protect safety while ensuring the rules are workable to support businesses, increase economic activity and create jobs.”
Christchurch’s 2011 earthquake took the lives of 185 people. The region has 926 earthquake prone buildings.
Survivor Ann Brower said the four-year extension was “rewarding procrastination”.
“There might be legitimate reasons for extending some of those, but a blanket extension sets a dangerous precedent and puts the rest of the country as risk.
“It almost punishes those who followed the rules, who met the deadline.”
Brower was the sole survivor of a bus crushed by a collapsed building in Colombo St during the February 2011 earthquake.
“If we can’t afford to keep these buildings, we can’t afford to keep them,” she said.
“Let’s just hope an earthquake doesn’t hit between now and [the end of the extension]. Or if it does, just try not be near one of those buildings.”