News & Insights
RCP welcomes Government’s earthquake-prone buildings plan
Author
Date
- 2024 November
Leading independent property construction and infrastructure consultancy firm RCP has welcomed the Government’s progress towards more effective rules for managing earthquake-prone buildings, RCP Managing Director Jeremy Hay says.
The Building (Earthquake-prone Building Deadlines and Other Matters) Amendment Bill had its third reading in Parliament today.
“New Zealand is facing a significant challenge with many buildings at risk of becoming unusable due to their status under earthquake-prone building legislation.
“If we don’t build an effective pathway to deal with these buildings then we run the risk of ending up with hundreds of empty, dangerous buildings depressing our city centres.
“Extending the remediation deadline gives building owners the certainty they need about the usability of their buildings in the short term while the Government’s wider review of the earthquake-prone building framework is underway,” Mr Hay says.
RCP are now looking ahead to the next stages of the review.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has also announced the appointment of an independent chair and advisory group who will guide the next stages of the earthquake-prone building risk management review.
“We look forward to seeing the report of the advisory group and contributing our knowledge and insights to the review,” Mr Hay says.
“For example, we know that different buildings have different risk profiles, based not only on their NBS rating but where these buildings are located and how they are used and occupied.
“Any successful earthquake prone remediation framework must effectively identify the buildings that pose the greatest risk to life, and direct funding and resources there first. This risk weighted prioritisation model is one that RCP is well versed in dealing with.”
RCP draw on a wealth of experience with seismic strengthening projects, including the Christchurch rebuild and Wellington City Council’s Unreinforced Masonry (‘URM’) strengthening programme.
“Successfully tackling this challenge will require alignment and agreement between building owners, the construction industry and government policy, and RCP are ready to play our part,” says Mr Hay.
