Deadline delay tipped on quake-risk masonry
Building owners struggling to meet deadlines on securing unreinforced masonry are expected to get a six-month reprieve today.
Following the Kaikoura earthquake in November 2016, engineers urged the Government to act on warnings of a period of high seismic activity expected in central New Zealand, to address what was described as an immediate threat to public safety.
Falling debris from buildings with unreinforced masonry caused 39 deaths in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, as well as more than 100 injuries.
Documents released under the Official Information Act reveal that building owners have reported a shortage of engineers, difficulty raising finance, higher than expected costs and challenges reaching agreement with body corporates.
In a small number of cases though, building owners have made little effort to address the issues, sometimes because of financial or personal difficulties, and elsewhere there has been scepticism as to whether there would be any official action once the deadline passed.
A Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment briefing said without changes to the programme there could be ‘‘unfair outcomes’’.
‘‘Building owners that have not completed work by the March 2018 deadline will have committed an offence and be liable to a fine of up to $200,000,’’ the briefing said, adding that prosecution would be ‘‘a potentially unfair outcome for building owners who have taken reasonable steps to comply’’.
Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa confirmed that Cabinet would discuss the issue today.
‘‘Currently all securing work needs to be completed by the date on the section 124 notice issued to each building owner. Councils were required to issue section 124 notices by 29 March 2017, and building owners have 12 months to comply. It’s important owners continue to work towards their current deadline.’’