Concerns about the risk posed by a suspected earthquake-risk community hall in Maori Hill could point to more remedial work for the Dunedin City Council.
Coronation Hall, built in 1910, was assessed two years ago as a likely quake risk, but it has remained open for public use.
The two-level building is owned by the council and leased in part to Maori Hill School, which uses its top level for school assemblies.
An event organiser, Simon Vare, said yesterday he had moved a planned event from the hall to another venue after receiving information about the building's seismic rating.He said he was told by council city property manager Kevin Taylor the building's seismic strength had been assessed at 16% of a new building standard (NBS).
Mr Vare said people needed to be aware of the building's seismic status, the likely cost of strengthening it and the potential for similar problems at other council-owned halls.
''We're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars ... I think people do need to be aware of it, because it's probably happening all around the city.''
However, council staff declined repeated Otago Daily Times requests for an interview yesterday. This included Mr Taylor, who said media access to staff was ''not something I'm familiar with''.
''I'm not giving interviews on it,'' he said.
In a brief written statement, council recreation planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson confirmed Coronation Hall did not meet building code requirements for ''large public performances''.
An initial seismic assessment in 2014 had found the building was ''likely to be earthquake prone'', but ''this does not mean the building is unsafe'', she said.
A more detailed assessment was necessary but the council had until 2037 to complete any necessary work, she said. The council would also consider the maintenance of its community halls as part of next year's long-term plan process, she added.
Maori Hill School principal Verity Harlick said yesterday questions about the building's strength were not for her to answer, and the school would continue using the hall ''until we hear otherwise from the council''.
Details of the hall's condition came after the first entries on a register of Dunedin's earthquake-risk buildings were revealed in 2014.
The register disclosed four earthquake-risk buildings, and 44 considered probably or possibly earthquake-risk, across Dunedin.
At the time, owners of all non-residential pre-1976 buildings had until the end of 2015 to have their buildings assessed and report results to the council, and then between 15 and 30 years to strengthen properties.
The rules have since been relaxed.
Buildings in low-risk areas, such as Dunedin, now have 15 years to complete assessments and 35 years to rectify concerns.
Last year, the council confirmed the city's ''critical'' Musselburgh pumping station needed to be strengthened, at a potential cost of up to $3.5million, after being found to be just 20% of NBS.
Other councils have also been considering the need to strengthen their buildings, including the Clutha District Council, which last year reported 10 of 14 buildings assessed were earthquake-prone.
Requests for further comment from Ms Paterson yesterday afternoon were declined by council communications staff.
