Council to meet building owners

MANAWATU District Council is offering to meet building owners during the next two months as it aims to ensure buildings in the region are safe for their occupants and the public.

Regulatory Supervisor Karel Boakes said the meetings were part of a process involving the identification of earthquake-prone buildings in Feilding’s business district and outlying townships.

“Council engaged a structural engineer and 112 assessments of buildings have been completed,” she said.

Residential houses were not included in the assessments unless they comprised three or more units and were two or more storeys high.

Ms Boakes said council wrote to building owners last December advising them of the results of the assessments.

“The next part of the process is to work with building owners, answer any questions and to allow reasonable time for owners to seek professional advice.”

With this in mind, council will contact building owners to offer a one-on-one meeting during February and March to discuss concerns, provide clarification and discuss options.

Ms Boakes said a number of building owners had already met with council, resulting in the removal of one building from the list and another undergoing reassessment.

“We are also responding to requests from building owners for copies of plans and council records to assist them in their investigations,” she said.

Information on the Building Act 2004 requirements is available on council’s website at www.mdc.govt.nz or by contacting Ms Boakes on (06) 323-0000.