Earthquake Prone
Buildings Engagement
An Earthquake Prone Buildings Liaison Officer has been appointed on a trial basis to support building owners with relevant advice and connections across the public and private sector in order to enable the acceleration of remedial works and the adaptive reuse of city centre buildings.
What Happened?
Why did it happen?
Get involved
Following various workshops with staff, elected members and the Timaru CityTown Development and Investment Group, Council engaged an Earthquake Prone Building (EPB) Liaison Officer to support building owners with relevant advice and connections across the public and private sector in order to enable the acceleration of remedial works and adaptive reuse of their buildings. The EPB Liaison Officer worked closely with Council’s Building Control Unit to optimise our existing policies and processes as appropriate.
The EPB Liaison Officer undertook this challenge in partnership with the members of the Development and Investment Group so that a robust support programme could support those who were unsure or were reluctant about undertaking next steps.
The Enabling approach to the regeneration of Timaru’s city centre acknowledges the requirement for private investment in the many privately owned properties that fringe our public spaces.
One identified sticking point is the number of Earthquake Prone Buildings (EPBs) in the city centre, some of which are sitting vacant and some of which are occupied but in poor condition (functionally and aesthetically). A large number of owners are yet to respond to Council’s EPB notification whether by undertaking an engineering assessment, applying for consents to remedy or commencing required works.
While we have a number of high profile developers who have demonstrated what is possible and desirable, we nonetheless run the risk of harbouring a number of “broken teeth” for a period of up to twelve years which will hamper the efforts of surrounding property owners, including the Council, to revitalise the city centre.
This deters investment and may present a financial and a health and safety risk for ratepayers in years to come if these buildings are left derelict or abandoned. It also presents challenges for both landlords and tenants already facing insurance limitations and disruption to business. Pressure has therefore been mounting for Council to do “something” rather than abandon the situation to market forces.
Call us for a chat about your options or make an appointment with our Earthquake Prone Buildings Liaison Officer to come and meet with you on site. There is no charge for this service.
David Penny
David.Penny@timdc.govt.nz
021940315
For more information about Earthquake Prone Buildings in Timaru go to: https://www.timaru.govt.nz/services/building/managing-earthquake-risk
For general information about our Building Control Unit: https://www.timaru.govt.nz/services/building
