Council may delay building policy update

A review by the Waitaki District Council of its dangerous, insanitary and earthquake-prone buildings policy is likely to be delayed until an inquiry into the Christchurch earthquake is completed.

On Tuesday, the council's committee of the whole will discuss the issue before making a recommendation to council.

Staff are recommending the review be carried out after the results of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Building Failure Caused by the Christchurch Earthquake is completed in November.

In the meantime, the policy the council put in place in 2004 would continue to operate.

The policy, due for review under the Building Act, sets a number of requirements for building owners on the maintenance and strengthening of buildings.

Policy manager Fraser Liggett said that over the past four months, the council had been closely following policy changes in other neighbouring councils and the potential wider impact of the Christchurch inquiry.

"As a result of possible changes in Government policy arising from the Royal Commission, officers have proposed that any changes to Waitaki's existing policy should only be undertaken after the Government has completed its review into the Canterbury earthquakes and made any decision to potentially change the existing building and design code standards.

"We believe it's prudent to wait for Government to respond to the recommendations from the inquiry before making any substantial changes which could affect building owners," he said.

While the date of the Royal Commission's final report had been pushed back to November 12, it was still considered that aligning the review of Waitaki's existing policy with Government's decision would provide more certainty to building owners.

"Adopting a new policy prior to the Government decision on building codes post Canterbury earthquakes may result in unnecessary changes and costs. We believe that waiting until the final report in November is a sensible approach and one also adopted by our neighbours in the Timaru District Council," he said.

The council could look at other actions in the meantime, including a seminar on the responsiveness of Oamaru stone buildings during seismic events, later in the year and considering the issue of earthquake-prone buildings as part of the 2012-22 Long Term Plan.

david.bruce@odt.co.nz

 

 

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