Tēnā koutou katoa Greetings to you all

Council consulted from September 2019 to October 2020 to identify high traffic thoroughfares to classify earthquake prone priority buildings as set by the 2016 Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act which came into effect in April 2017. The law change was to ensure buildings are managed consistently across the country.

Earthquake prone is the term used if any part of the building could cause injury if it were to collapse in a moderate earthquake.

Tararua sits in a high-risk seismic zone where owners of earthquake prone buildings must carry out seismic work within the timeframes of receiving their notices sent out in February 2022. This is 7.5 years for priority buildings and 15 years for other buildings.

The seismic and geological testing carried out on the new Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway project identified the area as one of the most seismically active in New Zealand.

Council started planning in 2016 for the Pahiatua Service Centre which is a heritage building, but with demands nationally on engineers, the final report wasn't received until 2018. Building consent was issued in 2019 and resource consent in 2020. While this majestic building had stood strong through many earthquakes, including Eketāhuna's 6.2 in 2014, its earthquake rating was very low at 10 per cent. The project remains on budget at $1.17m and will bring the Pahiatua Service Centre up to 67 per cent of the New Building Standard (NBS).

Our offices in Dannevirke were assessed at less than 34 per cent and the strengthening work here includes masonry reinforcement and roof works which will bring the building up to 67 per cent of the NBS. Currently half the building is closed while this work is carried out. The scaffolding is proudly supplied by a local company, using apprentices from the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs. The plastic wrap creates a safe working environment and keeps the building dry while the roof is exposed, it's not because we are building a second story as some people have said. The Council Chamber also doubles as our Emergency Operations Centre requiring a higher standard which is imperative for it to function. Dannevirke's budget is $955,000 and is on track.

Materials for both these projects have all been sourced, avoiding price escalations and the projects aligned to save costs and any time delays.

Noho ora mai.

Tracey Collis - Mayor