Earthquake-prone building proposals focus of meeting

People wanting to have their say on a new national policy on earthquake-prone buildings will get a chance to learn what is proposed at a public meeting in Dunedin later this month.

Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) proposals for a national approach to deal with earthquake-prone buildings were released in December for public consultation.

If adopted, all earthquake-prone buildings would be dealt with within 15 years, compared with an average of 28 years at present. In essence, the proposals require all non-residential and multi-unit, multi-storey residential buildings to have seismic capacity assessment within five years of the changes taking effect, with this information to be made publicly available on a register.

All earthquake-prone buildings would need to be strengthened to at least 34% of the requirement for a new building, or demolished, within 15 years of the changes taking effect.

The 15-year time frame comprises up to five years to complete the seismic capacity assessment, followed by up to 10 years for strengthening or demolition.

Views are sought on whether present Building Act fire escape and disability upgrade requirements are, in practice, a barrier to building owners deciding to carry out earthquake-strengthening work, and how heritage buildings can be preserved and made safer.

Decisions taken on these proposals will form part of the Government's full response to the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission report.

The Otago meeting, at 5.30pm at the Otago University Lecture Theatre Burns on February 21, is one of a series of public meetings to be held during the month. The meetings aim to help those wanting to make a submission better understand the present building system, as well as the proposed changes. Submissions on the proposals are open until March 8.

After the consultation period closes, the MBIE will analyse feedback and submissions and report to the Government for it to make decisions.

If adopted, the proposals will require legislative change, at which point there will be a further opportunity for public input through the normal select committee process.