Partial demolition of damaged building
An Auckland building, which was red stickered after suffering severe flood damage, was to be partially demolished on March 20.
The Probett Building in the west Auckland suburb of New Lynn had been closed since March 12 when flash floods hit the area.
Auckland Council said the demolition would allow it access to ’’remediate’’ the neighbouring culvert. A section of footpath in front of the 48-year-old building caved in after water swept through the area.
Located within the Clark St culvert, an overland flow path caused the footpath to collapse into a waterway, the council said. A crack had also appeared on the side of the building. Overland flow paths are routes taken by water when the drainage network can’t cope. These flow paths are a vital component of Auckland’s drainage and when they are blocked they can cause floods, Auckland Council’s website said.
The Probett Building’s property manager refused to confirm if the demolition was going ahead, and when it would happen. ‘‘With events like this there is obviously a large number of factors that need to be dealt with and we haven’t got any comment to make at this stage.’’ He said he was not sure when they would be able to make a comment and did not wish to elaborate on the ‘‘factors’’ that were being looked at.
Auckland Council had issued the building, which housed Auckland’s only nightclub Club Fiafia and at least three other businesses, with a dangerous building notice. Club Fiafia’s owner said he expected the club would not reopen on that site, and said last week he had not been able to get in.
Under the Building Act 2004 a dangerous building is one which, in the ordinary course of events, is likely to cause injury or death to any persons in it, or to persons on other property. This included by collapse, but excluded earthquakes.
Under Auckland Council’s Earthquake-Prone, Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy the council must identify dangerous buildings and inform the owners, and occupiers of the building, to take action to reduce or remove the danger.
MP for New Lynn David Cunliffe said he visited the area on March 17. He understood council had already received an engineering report. ‘‘The building looked to me like it is not in good shape.’’