Unpermitted work after Dunedin student Six60 balcony collapse

Sunday, 21 January 2018

There were multiple injuries after a balcony collapsed at Six60 gig in Dunedin.

Repairs to a balcony in Dunedin that collapsed during a concert, injuring 18 students, have been made without a building consent.

Other balconies have also been strengthened in the complex where a surprise Six60 concert was held in March 2016.

The collapse at the Castle St building injured 18 students, including Southlander Bailley Unahi, then aged 19, who suffered a severe spinal injury.

Students listen to support act Arcee before the balcony collapse.

The balcony has since been fixed, but the property owner did not get a building consent for the work.

**READ MORE:

The complex where a balcony collapsed during a surprise Six60 concert.

* Balcony collapse victim Bailley Unahi sits up in chair

* Unahi uncertain of future after balcony collapse

The balcony fell about 3 metres during a surprise Six60 concert in Dunedin.

* Harrowing injuries after balcony collapse at surprise Six60 concert

* Balcony collapse at Six60 gig, injuring 18 people

The number of people on one of the balconies fluctuated from about nine to 18 at the point of the collapse.

* Concerns raised about stability before Dunedin Six60 gig

* Police denied entry to some flats**

Emergency services and members of the public carry an injured person to an ambulance after the collapse in March 2016.

'We were surprised that the work had been done without a building consent, but I believe it was a genuine mistake by the building owners,' Dunedin City Council principal adviser building solutions Neil McLeod said.

He visited the property on December 14 and found the failed balcony structure had been rebuilt and other balconies at the complex had been strengthened.

It was unclear when the work was carried out, McLeod said.

A notice to fix the balcony was issued to the building's owner and they were required to apply for a Certificate of Acceptance.

Until the notice was resolved, the flat, which is understood to be untenanted, could not be occupied.

McLeod urged property owners wanting to carry out building work or repairs to check if they needed a building consent.

Richard McKnight, a shareholder in Ogato Investments Ltd, which has owned flats in the Castle St block since 2001, said he had 'no comment to make'.

Police last year decided not to lay criminal charges over the balcony collapse, while an earlier report by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in August 2016 found the balcony gave way because of 'grandstand level' loadings.

The number of people on one of the balconies fluctuated from about nine to 18 at the point of the collapse. The balcony was not intended to hold more than eight people.

Despite original reports people were jumping up and down on the balcony, video footage of the incident showed that was not the case.

A University of Otago report, released to Stuff under the Official Information Act, said multiple failures and poor preparation contributed to the collapse.