Potential earthquake prone buildings identified in central city
Published on 12 August 2022
Whanganui District Council has completed work to identify potentially earthquake-prone buildings along its identified priority thoroughfare and is engaging with owners about when the clock starts on the timeframe for repairs.
In the coming months buildings will be labelled according to their earthquake prone status, with earthquake prone building (EQPB) notices authorised by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).
The legislative system for managing earthquake prone buildings in New Zealand has been updated. This includes dividing the country into three seismic areas – high, medium and low and introducing the National Building Standards (NBS).
Under the updated system, in effect since 2017, Whanganui district has been categorised as a medium seismic zone. The buildings identified are considered a risk because of things like their construction, type, use or location.
Whanganui District Council building control manager, Greg Hoobin says, “Our identification work has included priority buildings, like schools, hospitals and buildings that house emergency services, that we want to ensure are safe for the community.”
“We have also focused on the most vulnerable buildings along our priority thoroughfare. This is the area where the most people may be at risk from earthquake prone buildings as they walk past or go about their business. It is also a thoroughfare that needs to remain accessible for emergency services.”
A public submission process in 2019 helped identify the priority thoroughfare in central Whanganui, which runs the length of Victoria Avenue and encompasses several side streets.
So far, 59 buildings identified as earthquake prone have already been remediated through the building consent process.
Greg Hoobin says, “We are really grateful to the community for their input in identifying the priority thoroughfare, and to the many building owners who have already sought to make repairs.”
The Building Act requires that the council informs owners of potential earthquake-prone buildings, and, that an engineering assessment must be carried out and provided to the council within twelve months of being notified officially.
Once an EQPB notice has been issued building owners will have 12.5 years to remediate any areas which impact on a priority thoroughfare and a further 12.5 years to remediate the rest of the building.
The council will be in touch with owners of identified buildings to let them know what is required and to make them aware of avenues for financial assistance, including for seismic assessments or to make repairs through channels like the Whanganui Heritage Grant contestable fund.
A number of building owners have already accessed funding available through Heritage Equip for repairs.
Whanganui District Council heritage advisor, Scott Flutey, says, “A building does not need to be scheduled on the council’s District Plan or listed with Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga in order to qualify for funding. Building owners are welcome to get in touch us with any questions about the scheme.”
While the council usually works directly with building owners, staff understand that tenants, and the wider community, may have questions and concerns too.
Greg Hoobin says, “Identifying buildings and thoroughfares, and then providing owners with clear timeframes and avenues through which to seek support for necessary assessments and repairs is ultimately about keeping the wider Whanganui community safe.”
The council anticipates a significant number of the EQPB notices will be in place by the end of 2022 and encourages anyone who would like to know more to keep an eye out for information-sharing events where council staff will be on hand to answer questions. The first of these will be held later this month and is organised by Mainstreet Whanganui for their members. Additional opportunities for the community to learn more will be announced soon.
The council anticipates a significant number of the EQPB notices will be in place by the end of 2022 and encourages anyone who would like to know more to visit the council’s website at: Earthquake-prone Buildings Whanganui District Council. Information-sharing event details will also be shared on the website and on the council’s Facebook page.
For media queries, email: media@whanganui.govt.nz or call: 0272567097
- View the priority thoroughfare online at: eqpb-priority-thoroughfares-and-routes.pdf (whanganui.govt.nz)
- For more information on the Heritage Grant Fund visit: Heritage Grant Fund Whanganui District Council Building owners can also contact the council’s heritage advisor by calling (06) 349 3168 with any questions about the scheme or about the strengthening of heritage buildings.
- In addition to buildings already identified, the council has received a number of engineering reports for the remaining buildings. The type of EQPB notice issued for these buildings will depend on the NBS percentage derived from the engineering assessment.