Wellington considers new earthquake laws that could cost homeowners thousands

Possible new earthquake regulations could force some Wellington homeowners to fork out for having their chimney removed.

Wellington homeowners could be forced to spend thousands removing chimneys, reinforcing piles and installing emergency water tanks under new earthquake regulations that could be fast-tracked by the city council.
A raft of proposals to future-proof the capital against earthquakes have been on the drawing board since September as part of the council's city resilience plan.
But after Wellington was hit badly by the magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake on November 14, the council's disaster planners are looking to speed up the introduction of new building regulations.

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Wellington could be on the verge of bringing in new laws to quake-proof the city.

While specific details of the new regulations are yet to be revealed, they could end up costing homeowners thousands of dollars.
A 30-point plan presented to city councillors in September proposed regulatory, and non-regulatory, options that would require residents to seismicly secure their home. It also proposed making it compulsory for new houses to be built with solar panels, emergency water tanks.

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Wellington City Council chief resilience officer Mike Mendonca says the capital's resilience plan is a massive opportunity to improve the city for future generations.

Next month, the council's recovery manager Mike Mendonca will present an adjusted draft plan to the council's city strategy committee.
"There has been a seismic shift in our thinking around resilience and this is a new blueprint for resilience in the city, and a massive opportunity for us to improve the city for future generations," he said.
The council has the power to create bylaws using the Building Act and Resource Management Act, but may also need new Government legislation to come up with some rules.

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Katherine Mansfield House, in Wellington, was damaged when a brick wall fell on it during the November 14 earthquake.

The focus was on homes because it was known that Wellington's central city could be compromised after a big earthquake and it was important that people could work safely elsewhere, Mendonca said.
"If we take basic steps, like removing brick chimneys and securing piles, people can feel safe at home."
Wellington Chimney Removal Company owner Kevin Giles said the cost of removing a chimney depended on the size and type, but a "rough guide" for removing one to roof level and capping the top was about $1000.

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Wellington Mayor Justin Lester says strengthening un-reinforced masonry buildings is his biggest priority.

Emergency water tanks, meanwhile, can cost between $100 and $1000, depending on size.
The 30-point plan also proposes putting a plan in place for managing Wellington's heritage areas – primarily Newtown and Cuba St – post-quake to avoid an argument like the one that dogged the future of Christ Church Cathedral.
It is possible Wellington City Council will look to exercise special discretionary powers, granted by the Government after the deadly Canterbury earthquake in 2010, that halve the timeframe for strengthening or demolishing quake-prone buildings.

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Emergency water tanks can cost between $100 and $1000.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said people needed to know they were safe in high-use public areas.
"The biggest priority for me is un-reinforced masonry buildings. This is an immediate requirement."
Derek Baxter, the council's building intelligence manager, said Wellington engineers had been engaging with Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith about developing a long-term policy for public safety.

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A 30-point disaster plan has proposed all new homes in Wellington be built with solar panels and emergency water tanks.

The council ordered 80 building owners in the CBD to do more invasive testing in December, and there were other buildings not damaged in the November earthquake, or included in the list of 80, that were cause for concern, Baxter said.
"The un-reinforced masonry buildings on Cuba St were not vulnerable to the quake but that does not make them any less of a risk."
The owners of the 80 CBD buildings were due to report back to the council by January 20 to acknowledge receipt of the request, and had until February 10 to undertake assessments, Baxter said.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/nz-earthquake/88574449/wellington-considers-new-earthquake-laws-that-could-cost-homeowners-thousands