Review Of Policy On Dangerous, Earthquake-Prone And Insanitary Buildings

SPECIAL CONSULTATIVE PROCEDURE UNDER SECTION 87 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2002

Review of Policy on Dangerous, Earthquake Prone and Insanitary Buildings

The Council is amending its policy on dangerous, earthquake prone and insanitary buildings. It is a review of existing policy under section 132 of the Building Act 2004.

The Act requires all territorial authorities to adopt a policy on dangerous, earthquake prone and insanitary buildings. The existing policy was adopted in 2006 and the series of devastating earthquakes in Christchurch has resulted in authorities all over the country in reviewing their policies to bring about improved levels of safety for the public.

The amendments to the document apply only to the issue of Earthquake Proneness and there are no changes to the policy on dangerous or insanitary buildings.

The principal areas of change are to Section 3 of the current policy. This involves requiring owners of two storey buildings constructed prior to 1976 to have their buildings assessed for earthquake proneness by a Chartered Engineer (Structural) and a report lodged with the Napier City Council within a period of 12 months of the policy being adopted. Note: The Policy change does not relate to private residential dwellings.

Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Planning Department, 2nd Floor Library Building, Hastings Street, Napier, Phone 835 7579.

Written submissions on the reviewed policy may be made by any person and must be lodged with the Committee Administrator, Napier City Council, Private Bag 6010, Napier no later than 12 noon on Friday 9 March 2012.

Online Submission Form

Any submission must be dated, signed and include the following information.

• 1. Your name, postal address, telephone number and email address (if applicable)
• 2. Your submission, with reasons.
• 3. The decision you wish the Council to make.
• 4. Whether you wish to be heard in support of your submission. After the close of submissions a formal round of hearings will take place with submissions being heard by the Napier City Council Hearings Committee.

Neil Taylor
CHIEF EXECUTIVE