A $15,000 overspend has been approved by the Vincent Community Board for another seismic study on the council-owned building leased by the National Bank on Tarbert St.
The tenants commissioned their own initial assessment of the building, thought to have been built in 1938, and discovered that it did not meet the threshold requirements in the building code and is therefore deemed potentially earthquake-prone.
To meet the threshold, a building must be one-third of the strength required for a new building.
The strength of the bank building was assessed at 24%, meaning it was deemed a high-risk structure and carries a risk rating of 10 to 25 higher than a new, compliant building, council property officer Brian Taylor said in a report to the board.
He also said the council, at some point in time, would have a statutory obligation to undertake the detailed assessment anyway but in this case, early action could put the minds of the bank's management at ease in regards to staff and customer safety.
Board members said, as a landlord, the board had a responsibility to get the detailed assessment.
However, no remedial work would need to be done unless an application for building consent is lodged.
• The Vincent Community Board has agreed to adopt volumetric charging for water, as recommended by the Central Otago District Council.
Ratepayers on town supplies will be charged an annual uniform charge, included in rates, which will cover the cost of the connection.
For this financial year, the cost for Alexandra rate payers will be $170; $50 for Clyde and $760 for Omakau. They will then be charged an additional 50c per cubic metre of water used.
Individual bulk users will be charged 75c per cubic metre.
Volumetric charging is to begin on July 1 this year.
