Empty buildings a risk under quake standard

The main streets of four rural Southland towns have now been labelled priority areas under earthquake-standard legislation.

Owners of 120 buildings on the main streets of Otautau, Riverton, Winton and Wyndham have 12 1⁄2 years to assess and remediate earthquake-prone buildings, under a resolution passed at a Southland District Council meeting yesterday.

The council identified and publicly consulted on thoroughfares of high pedestrian and foot traffic in the towns last year.

Some buildings in these thoroughfares have unreinforced masonry, which could be a threat to safety in the event of an earthquake, such as one along the Alpine Fault.

At yesterday’s council meeting, building compliance team leader Simon Tonkin said two types of engineer’s reports could be used in the process – an initial one costing $2500 and another that could cost up to $25,000.

Councillor John Douglas questioned what the outcome for a property owner would be if, for whatever reason, they did not carry out the engineer’s reports.

He queried whether towns could end up being ‘‘ghettos’’ of empty buildings.

The law allowed the council to ask for an engineer’s report, and the council could give an owner one year, Tonkin said.

An owner can then apply for a two-year extension.

However, after that, if the owner had not provided the council with a report, the council could proceed as if the building was earthquake prone, Tonkin said.

‘‘In other words, the owner does not have to spend a cent and we will put a notice on the door. I know that doesn’t help your point, but that’s the law of the land,’’ Tonkin said.

Councillor Don Byars asked if there was a way for the council to help revitalise the buildings and the towns.

‘‘Otherwise they’re going to die, aren’t they?’’ he said.

Southland District mayor Gary Tong said: ‘‘It’s an issue across all earthquake-prone areas, no doubt about that.

‘‘It all comes down to money. And if the owners can’t do it, they walk away from it as you say and there’s a whole lot of buildings left with stickers on them.’’

Byars said it would be ratepayers who ended up responsible for demolishing the buildings.

That would be dependent on the owner, Tonkin said.

‘‘If that’s the way they want to go, that’s the way they want to go. All we can do is apply the law as it is,’’ he said.

‘‘The law’s pretty black and white on this one,’’ Tong said.

Council staff will now set up an inspection programme for the district.

‘‘If the owners can’t do it . . . there’s a whole lot of buildings left with stickers on them.’’ Gary Tong Southland District mayor