Council asks for help to prioritise earthquake-prone buildings

Western Bay residents are invited to help Western Bay of Plenty District Council define the location of “thoroughfares” where there are earthquake-prone buildings.

Thoroughfares are those high-use public spaces where masonry from buildings may be at risk of falling on people if an earthquake struck. Council is required by the Building Act 2004 to undertake assessment of these areas.

Council is seeking public feedback from today (Monday 22 June) until Friday 24 July on three proposed thoroughfares in Waihi Beach, Katikati and Te Puke, and whether there may be other areas that should be considered. Buildings along these thoroughfares will be a top priority for assessing for unreinforced masonry.

Since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake when falling masonry killed 39 people in the central business district, all councils have been required to prioritise the assessment of buildings located along a “thoroughfare” where there are earthquake-prone buildings.

If a building is identified as being earthquake-prone, the building owner has 12 months from the date of identification to obtain an engineering assessment. If the assessment concludes that a building is earthquake prone, the building owner must complete seismic work within 12-and-a-half years if the building is along a thoroughfare.

Alternatively the seismic work needs to be done within 25 years if the building isn’t along a thoroughfare.

The three thoroughfares Council has identified for the priority work are:

• Waihi Beach - along Wilson Road (from Ocean Breeze Drive to Snell Crescent)
• Katikati - along State Highway 2 (from Hyde Street to Marshall Road)
• Te Puke - along Jellicoe Street (from Oroua Street to King Street; Commerce Lane (from Jocelyn Street to and including Palmer Place); Jocelyn Street (from Jellicoe Street to Commerce Lane).

All information is available at: https://haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz/thoroughfares

Feedback closes 4pm, Friday 24 July 2020.

Want to provide feedback?

• Complete the feedback form online.
• Email: haveyoursay@westernbay.govt.nz
• Post: Location of Thoroughfares, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Private Bag 12803, Tauranga 3143