Masterton quake risks flagged

A handful of earthquake-prone buildings have been identified in Masterton's shopping centre and the environs but many more could emerge as building owners call in the results of assessments.
So far seven buildings in Queen Street have been declared earthquake prone, two in Dixon Street, and one each in Akura Road, Bentley Street and Chapel Street.
Among those on the list so far are the old Westpac Bank next to Masterton Trust Lands Trust, at least one business in the Daniell Buildings and old Empire Hotel complex, the former Adamson Land Surveyors brick building on the corner of Chapel Street and Albert Street, a second-hand shop at the northern end of Queen Street, a cafe, an office supply depot and the Equippers Church premises.
As Masterton District Council formulates a definite earthquake-prone buildings policy chief executive Wes ten Hove said the buildings were identified as a result of owners doing the right thing.
"They are the good guys who have had their buildings assessed and have reported the results back to us."
In contrast there are 219 premises throughout Masterton district that have been asked to have assessments done and have either not done so or failed to report the findings.
A further 145 buildings have been assessed and found not to be able to withstand a tremor.
Masterton has to review its policy and the buildings found to be risks have, by law, to be either brought up to Building Act standards, or demolished, by 2016.
Although building owners have been repeatedly asked to have assessments done and have an obligation to do so under the Building Act, the council policy lacks teeth.
The council has no enforcement capability and has not yet voted on whether the cost of the assessments should be picked up by ratepayers or left to business owners.
Assessments are said to cost around $1500 each.
The Christchurch earthquake in September gave new impetus to pushing for the policy review and the devastation caused by last month's quake spurred the debate even further.
Questions have also arisen about heritage buildings and policy.
In Masterton's CBD 25 heritage buildings have been identified including three NZ Historic Places Trust buildings of local significance. They are: the Wairarapa Times-Age building; St Patrick's Church; the Masterton Trust Lands Trust building.
Heritage buildings that have not been strengthened and have been identified as earthquake-prone can be strengthened to a minimum of 34 per cent of the building code, whereas other buildings need to be strengthened to 50 per cent.
Councillors are debating whether heritage buildings should be treated the same as others, without any special exemptions.
Mr ten Hove said that could mean it would not be economic to strengthen some heritage buildings and owners could "apply pressure" to have the building demolished.
He has recommended to councillors that changes to the earthquake prone building policy should be extended beyond Masterton and become a regional policy.
With that in mind, councillors plan a workshop and have invited Carterton and South Wairarapa district councillors, engineering consultants involved with seismic building strengthening, some major building owners, insurers and the Historic Places Trust.