Wellington on target to fix just 20% of earthquake prone buildings

Thursday, 7 December 2023

With 300 earthquake prone buildings to be dealt with in the next four years, the problem is “almost insurmountable”, Wellington City councillors have been told.

Councillors were briefed on Wednesday on the extent of the city’s earthquake strengthening crisis, with only 20% of the buildings on track to get fixed, according to a report.

The report, titled City Seismic Issues, proposed asking the Government to review its earthquake prone building system and extend deadlines.

New Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk told The Post last week that the Government would consider bringing forward a review of the system planned for 2027.

The Wellington council briefing suggested the review should focus on getting a better balance between the risk an earthquake prone building (EPB) posed to people and property, and the ”social and economic impact of enforcement“.

The Post highlighted examples recently such as a group of apartment owners living in a previously strengthened heritage building past its deadline, who now faced an $8 million bill to have the building fixed again.

In 2027, Wellington has 229 buildings set to hit deadlines.

With a total of 300 due by then, most buildings needed serious interventions to get them up to code.

“The ‘easy’ buildings have already been resolved, but the 2027 peak … relates to more complex EPB,” the report said.

The majority of the 300 EPBs expiring before the end of 2027 were 1-3 storey buildings owned by “mum and dad investors with limited access to financial and technical resources”.

At their “current effort”, modelling showed just 20% of EPBs would be resolved. With “increased effort” which “requires intensive resource beyond which the council can afford”, 70% would be fixed.

“The current effort on EPBs will not be enough for the future.”

Staff said even if building owners were “compliant” there was still not enough capacity in the construction sector to get the work done.

“We believe this exercise that we’re asked to do under the Act is actually almost insurmountable,” said chief city planner Liam Hodgetts.

Its location in a high risk earthquake zone meant Wellington had more compressed strengthening timeframes and now found itself at the forefront of a looming nationwide crisis in managing its earthquake prone buildings.

The report suggested “leveraging our capital city status” to get a ”city deal“ with Government.

“Wellington's ability to manage its seismic risks needs to be consistent with our role in developing a vibrant economy that attracts skills in a competitive environment and that can supply the services and employment opportunities.”

Councillor Iona Pannett said she was pleased to see the council was willing to approach Government about changing the system and extending deadlines.

“We need to write to Minister Penk or talk to the mayor about getting that done before Christmas.”

A building owner who failed to complete seismic work by the deadline commits an offence – and is liable, on conviction, to a fine of up to $300,000. The council could also get a court order authorising it to carry out the seismic work and recover those costs from the building owner.

BY THE NUMBERS

572 earthquake prone buildings in Wellington

24 council-owned buildings are earthquake prone

300 buildings need to be fixed by the end of 2027

7 buildings now have expired notices

980 residential units in earthquake prone buildings

124 heritage buildings (that cannot be demolished)

34 buildings need be improved beyond 34% new building standard (NBS) to be considered no longer earthquake prone