Dannevirke: Quake debate unresolved

The Tararua District Council has proposed moving Woodville's library, service centre and iSite across the road.

Tararua District's earthquake requirements won't be easing, despite the major changes to the system of assessment and strengthening recently announced by Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith.

The council's chief executive, Blair King, said: "There are no changes in terms of unreinforced masonry commercial buildings, but we appreciate the Government's recognition that the assessment of farm buildings isn't a good use of money."

Dannevirke is in the top four or five areas as a high-risk earthquake zone with the requirements remaining the same: buildings at risk to be assessed within five years, with strengthening carried out within 15 years.

Woodville residents are concerned about the future of the Lindauer Replica Studio

Dr Smith said the changes would reduce the number of buildings nationally requiring assessment from an estimated 500,000 to 30,000, bringing down the estimated cost from $1.3 billion to $777 million.

Mr King told the Dannevirke News his council would now carry on assessing buildings, acknowledging the sheer number of quake-risk buildings in Tararua constructed from unreinforced masonry.

"This has been part of the driver for the proposals from Woodville to our long-term plan," he said.

Submissions to the plan closed last Friday and Mr King said there had been a good range of submissions on the issues involving the Woodville service centre, library and iSite.

The council owns three separate buildings in the town and recent changes in tenancies, use and earthquake assessments means the council has to decide how these buildings will continue to be used.

The library and council service centre building has been deemed earthquake-prone, with at least $70,000 required to bring it up to a minium standard. The council believes it makes good business sense to move the library, service centre and iSite across the road into a one-stop shop within the building currently occupied by the Tararua Alliance. The building, built in 1985, becomes vacant later this year.

However, Woodville's Kevin McIntyre said residents had other ideas.

"As far as I can see, this means the council is closing the Lindauer Replica Studio [attached by an internal corridor to the iSite] because it will be left with no power and security," he said.

"The council's plan will leave the studio isolated, while they bulldoze the rest of the site and build a $100,000 toilet.

"We've been told by the council it will cost around $300,000 to demolish the current buildings on the site, build a toilet there and to do up the Alliance building over the road."

Mr McIntyre said the biggest push by Woodville residents was not to have the new complex on the Alliance site, but rather relocate to the Infracon building up the road.

"We've given the council something to think about by suggesting they move everything to the former Infracon building," he said. "The council could sell the library/service centre complex and establish a centre on the Infracon site with everything, including toilets, the Lindauer studio, the MenzShed and perhaps even the museum."

Mr McIntyre said the council's long-term plan had not taken into account what the community wanted and the feelings of residents.

"They [council] don't like being challenged," he said.

"This town doesn't want the library gone and there is a third option - reinforce the library, bring it up to code and extend it and keep it there."

Submissions to the council's long-term plan have now closed and there will be a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19.