Roll-out of earthquake-prone building notices starting
Published on 24 June 2024
As a territorial authority, Whanganui District Council is required to manage earthquake-prone buildings in the Whanganui District under the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016.
The act identifies three seismic areas throughout New Zealand – high, medium and low – with the Whanganui District categorised as a medium seismic zone.
The council’s regulatory and compliance manager, Jason Shailer, says, “As required by the regulations, the council’s building control team has been identifying potential earthquake-prone buildings within Whanganui’s priority building and thoroughfare group.
“Building owners have also had the opportunity to supply the council with engineering assessments during this time, and now we’re about to start issuing applicable earthquake-prone building notices to these owners.”
One of three types of earthquake-prone building (EPB) notices will need to be displayed in a prominent place at all times on an affected building. These notices have been authorised by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and each shows an applicable New Building Standards (NBS) percentage rating when known. Most of these notices will be distributed by the council to building owners throughout the Whanganui District by the end of 2024.
Jason Shailer says, “Once an EPB notice has been issued, building owners will have 16.5 years to remediate any areas that affect a priority thoroughfare – these areas are usually verandahs, parapets and frontages.
“The remainder of the building, if identified as earthquake prone, is required to be strengthened or demolished within 29 years. Individual notices will stipulate the timeframes required for each building and/or part of building.”
To help support owners of potential earthquake-prone buildings that have heritage significance, contestable funding is available through Whanganui District Council’s Heritage Grant Fund. Professional seismic assessments such as engineering reports can be refunded through the fund by up to 80 percent if the advice is less than $15,000 (excluding GST), and by up to 50 percent if the advice is more than this amount.
For specific information on earthquake-prone building requirements, please visit: www.whanganui.govt.nz/earthquake-prone-buildings
For any questions about the Heritage Grant Fund and/or the seismic strengthening of heritage buildings in Whanganui, please email: heritagegrantfund@whanganui.govt.nz