Nearly 2000 Auckland buildings identified as earthquake-prone

Wednesday, 18 July 2018

The Victoria Theatre in Devonport is one of the buildings identified as earthquake-prone.

Nearly two thousand properties around Auckland could pose a risk to people or properties in a moderate earthquake, Auckland Council has found.

Signs have gone up on eight council-owned buildings identified as earthquake-prone, while the owners of 1800 properties have also been sent notices in the mail.

Grey Lynn Library, Victoria Theatre in Devonport, Leys Institute buildings in Ponsonby, Studio One Toi Tu Ponsonby Rd, and three toilet blocks have had notices posted on them in the past two months.

They are on a list of 59 council-owned buildings identified as earthquake-prone with some still being assessed, Dean Kimpton, chief operating officer for Auckland Council, said.

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A white background on the notice is the lowest-level warning available under the legislation.

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Ian McCormick, the council's general manager for building control, said earthquake strengthening legislation that came into force in July of last year had prompted the assessments.

That legislation gave all building owners 15 years to identify whether their building was earthquake-prone.

Auckland's earthquake risk is seen as one of the lowest in the country.

McCormick said owners of the 1800 properties who have received letters could conduct their own seismic assessments to prove the council assessment wrong.

'If they don't respond to us in a month we'll hold with the current assessment position that we've got,' he said.

After that, the council would resend the notice along with a placard to notify people the building could pose a risk in the event of an earthquake.

Council buildings identified as earthquake-prone bear signs printed in black and white that say 'the owner of the building is required to carry out building work to ensure that the building is no longer earthquake-prone'.

Building owners have 35 years to strengthen their buildings, Kimpton said.

Auckland Council's property portfolio of 2000 buildings had to be examined for risks, but he added: 'None of our building stock is deemed dangerous.'

'We are not currently planning on closing any council-owned buildings solely as a result of a seismic assessment.'

Kimpton said buildings built before 1976, those with three or more storeys, or those made with unreinforced masonry were seen as more earthquake-prone than other buildings.

However, Auckland's earthquake risk is seen as one of the lowest in the country.

The city can expect a major earthquake once every 20,000 years and there has been no recorded earthquake of a magnitude of 6.5 since 1840.

Kimpton said there were 'no reliable assessments' of how much it may cost to strengthen the council-owned buildings affected.

'I'm a bit nervous to go out there with any numbers because they're so high-level they're just not helpful,' he added.