24 November 2022
Media: Asset Property Magazine
Topic: Earthquake-prone buildings
Enquiry
I’m writing a feature article for Asset property magazine on the economic impacts of the above as required by the 2017 regulations.
Please let me have an update on the status of earthquake-prone buildings in the city.
How many were considered at risk after 2017, how many have had the required strengthening undertaken and have any been demolished or are standing empty as a result of safety concerns?
That’s apart from the museum and the Blue Baths building.
Please let me have our new mayor’s latest statement on the issue of upgrades to council buildings and the associated costs. Has the allocation of budget for such strengthening resulted in a (partial) increase in rates and if yes, by what percentage?
Response
Please let me have an update on the status of earthquake-prone buildings in the city.
Currently Rotorua has 66 buildings listed as earthquake prone, the list can be found on the national register at this link:
Register of earthquake-prone buildings (EPB Register)
How many were considered at risk after 2017, how many have had the required strengthening undertaken and have any been demolished or are standing empty as a result of safety concerns? That’s apart from the museum and the Blue Baths building.
In 2013 the council requested the owners of approximately 1300 buildings obtain structural engineering assessments to determine if their buildings would be at risk in the event of a substantial earthquake in Rotorua. This preliminary list of buildings to be assessed was based on data from property records as well as factors like construction type, design, when it was built and the nature of its use. Requiring this assessment did not necessarily mean the building would be unsafe in an earthquake but provided reasonably conclusive evidence about whether or not it was earthquake-prone.
Changes to the Building Act and prescribed methodology in 2017 reduced the number of buildings needing a structural review. Council has been reworking the original list and to date has requested and received engineers reports confirming a building is earthquake prone or has assumed it is – as required by the Building Act - where the owner has failed to provide a structural report.
This process resulted in 66 buildings being deemed to be earthquake-prone.
Five Buildings have been removed from the register either because they have been strengthened or information confirming the building is not earthquake prone has been belatedly provided.
Re earthquake-prone council buildings and work undertaken to date:
- Northern (heritage) end of CBD iSite building – strengthening complete
- Soundshell – demolished
- Community House – demolished
- Civic Centre (council offices) – strengthening work completed
- Library building Te Aka Mauri – strengthening completed (strengthened as part of redevelopment of the building which re-opened in 2018 as the library and child health hub, a partnership with Lakes DHB)
- Sir Howard Morrison Centre (heritage) section of building – strengthening completed (strengthening work completed as part of overall redevelopment of the venue which will be formally opened in February 2023)
- Museum – strengthening work yet to start (historic section of the museum determined to be earthquake prone, promoting its closure for public safety reasons)
Blue Baths – no strengthening work undertaken to date (seismic assessment in Jan 2021 found it to be earthquake prone and prompted its closure for public safety reasons.)
Please let me have our new mayor’s latest statement on the issue of upgrades to council buildings and the associated costs. Has the allocation of budget for such strengthening resulted in a (partial) increase in rates and if yes, by what percentage?
Response from Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell:
Buildings require constant maintenance and renewal work and earthquake strengthening has been part of that upkeep for some of our council buildings.
Every council cost impacts rates.
Public safety is our primary concern and we don’t compromise on that.
Council has already completed strengthening of several council buildings.