Decision on CTV building investigation imminent

Photo / Geoff Sloan

Police will decide soon on whether a formal investigation is warranted into the collapse of the Canterbury Television building, which killed 115 people.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson said yesterday police action was the only option after the governing body of professional engineers advised it was unable to act against those held responsible for the flawed building's design and construction.

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission found the CTV building, which collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake, was seriously deficient in its design and construction.

But the Institution of Professional Engineers said it had no regulatory powers to sanction the engineers involved since the Chartered Professional Engineers Act came into force in 2002.

IPENZ chief executive Andrew Cleland said the Department of Building and Housing was made aware of this last March.

However, he confirmed IPENZ was reviewing its code of ethics, "including clarifying the duty of engineers to protect life, and the extent to which they are obliged to report any substandard work they observe".

Mr Cleland said it was "timely" to review the code as the professions "undergoes public scrutiny'".

A police national headquarters spokesman confirmed police were assessing the Ministry of Building Innovation and Employment and the royal commission reports on the CTV building collapse.

"This assessment phase is expected to be concluded soon and then a decision will be made on whether a formal investigation is required or not," he said.

He refused to put a timeframe on when a decision was likely, saying the assessment was a "lengthy process because of the complex technical nature" of the issues involved.