Signs warn people to enter at own risk

As the owner of several Wanganui heritage buildings, Ross Mitchell-Anyon knows a bit about the cost of earthquake-proofing.

And he is putting the emphasis on awareness rather than strengthening as far as his property is concerned.

Mr Mitchell-Anyon is warning the users of the Old Chronicle building and the Chinese laundry in Drews Ave that the buildings pose a risk in an earthquake - and he has put up signage to that effect.

However, he says: "The risk that users of the buildings face needs to put in the context of the other risks we face in our day-to-day life.

"The important thing is that people are aware of the risk and can then make a choice - just as they do every day when they jump into their car."

He said Wanganui simply could not afford the cost of proofing its heritage buildings - "In particular, it cannot support the cost of the compliance regime proposed in the amended building act. Measures to mitigate the risk, such as verandah poles and sufficiently strong structures to catch falling parapets, are sensible because that is the zone where many lives were lost in Christchurch."

With that in mind, part of his message is: "Don't run outside during or immediately after an earthquake."

Mr Mitchell-Anyon believes the Sarjeant Gallery presents a different problem. "It is a category one historic building. I believe the risk of it collapsing and killing people is extremely remote but the risk of it being damaged beyond repair in a major earthquake is significant enough to justify ground isolating it and, in doing so, solving some of the gallery's accommodation problems ..."

He believes the gallery should have been closed, the collection stored off-site and the building strengthened and then re-opened.