Council has quake problem
Offices must be upgraded as they pose a seismic risk, engineers warn
The work will be a lot more straightforward than what is required for the Pahiatua Chambers. Blair King, council chief executive
Tararua District Council’s Dannevirke office and home to its emergency operations centre is now on the register of earthquake prone buildings in our district. Engineering firm Beca has reported to council the problems relate to two concrete block walls from when it was a crop and grain store. The walls, outside the district mayor’s office and alongside the chief financial officer’s area, are key areas, council chief executive Blair King said. “Having them removed is the simplest option and the suspended ceilings will have to go too,” he said. “Because the roof structure in Dannevirke is robust, the work will be a lot more straightforward than what is required for the Pahiatua Chambers.” King said the work on the walls could be done with very minor disruption, along with some floor to wall connections, but the suspended ceilings would require staff relocation. “We do have a budget for this work in our Long Term Plan, but what we don’t have is a cost estimate to jack and pack the outside walls of the building,” he said. Meanwhile, Tararua Community Youth Services are moving from their historic Carnegie Centre building in Allardice St to the former Scanpower and Turfrey premises on March 1. The Carnegie Centre requires earthquake strengthening to bring it to 34 per cent of earthquake code, with cost estimates up to $1 million. Owners of heritage buildings in regional areas are set to benefit from changes to Heritage EQUIP, the national earthquake upgrade incentive programme, revealed Grant Robertson, Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage. “Tailoring funding for heritage building owners in regional, medium and high seismic risk areas gives them more options to manage the unique earthquake strengthening challenges they face.” The grants provide up to 50 per cent of the costs required for obtaining services such as detailed seismic assessments, conservation reports, architectural and structural engineering plans and many regional building owners are also able to apply for up to 67 per cent of upgrade works costs.