24 council buildings in quake consideration
TWENTYFOUR Central Otago District Councilowned earthquakeprone buildings appear set to be included in a risk framework to help the council consider further seismic assessment and strengthening work.
The buildings — which range from meeting 1067% of the National Building Standard (NBS) — were identified following initial seismic assessments done several years ago by a structural engineer.
They include various Central Otago memorial halls and service centres, as well as the Alexandra Community Centre (21% of NBS), Clyde Railway Station (28%), Naseby General Store (19%) and several buildings in the Clyde Briar and Thyme Museum complex (1731%).
Under national legislation the council has 7.5 years to strengthen highrisk buildings and 12.5 years to streng then mediumrisk buildings.
However, the council decided to strengthen the Roxburgh Service Centre and Ranfurly Service Centre sooner, to 67% of the NBS, as they would likely be needed as bases in an emergency, a report by council property officer Tara Bates to be discussed at today’s council meeting said.
The work on the Roxburgh centre has been done, and it now meets the 67% threshold.
Design work is being done for the Ranfurly centre, which only meets 17% of the NBS.
National legislation defined Central Otago as a ‘‘medium risk’’ area, Ms Bates’ report said.
There was no legislative requirement to close buildings that have been identified as earthquakeprone, and it was up to council to decide what the risks were for councilowned buildings ‘‘and whether to take any action’’, she said.
Her report recommends developing a risk framework for earthquakeprone buildings, and to make assessment of the Cromwell Memorial Hall — for which a proposed major upgrade was thrown out by the Cromwell Community Board, and which meets only 1015% of the NBS — a priority against that framework.