Mysteries, Chemtrails, Aerosols :: Mysterious NZ New Zealand based Discussion Forums The strange & mysterious, archaeological anomalies, modern oddities... Current affairs, health & medical issues, Aerosol Spraying in NZ... ...and general interest: ARCHIVES
Joined: 07 Aug 2008
Posts: 1853
Location: The Wild West
Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:39 am Post Subject: Wellington Buildings On Quake Notice
Sieg Heil!
Wellington buildings on quake notice HANK SCHOUTEN
Last updated 05:00 23/06/2011
Wellington City Council has begun stickering earthquake-prone buildings in the heart of the city, ordering buildings to be vacated or giving owners just a few months to strengthen or demolish them.
Final notices have been taped, or are about to be taped, to the front of nine buildings and the council is threatening to serve notices on a further 11 in a move prompted in part by the devastation and deaths caused by the Christchurch quakes.
Council building compliance manager Stephen Cody said the move followed years of inaction by building owners, who had been under notice for up to 30 years that their buildings would have to be strengthened or demolished.
Notices setting a date for properties to be vacated were being posted on buildings where the council had not seen reasonable progress. One of the most prominent and well-patronised is tenanted by Ernesto cafe on the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets.
Its notice, posted next to the cafe door last Friday, gives warning that, unless the building is strengthened or demolished, it will have to be vacated by October 30. If that deadline is not met, a red sticker barring entry to the building can be issued.
Building owner Stephen Hawke said he had been talking to the council for a couple of years about strengthening the heritage-listed building as he wanted to bring it up to 100 per cent of the code.
"But we can't strengthen it within four months. I can only do what I can do - I'm not an architect, designer or engineer, I'm only the owner.
"If Christchurch hadn't happened, I'm sure the council would have been more relaxed."
Cafe owner Mike Marsland referred The Dominion Post to Mr Hawke, saying he hoped to find out more about what was in store when he read about it in today's paper. "We will move if he doesn't do what he has to do - clearly the council guys have had a gutsful."
Staff member Marie Groenendijk said she was not concerned about working in the building and, from what she had seen, it had not scared off customers.
However, colleague Evelyne Velazquez was anxious about the quake risk. "I'm worrying about it, but I'm worrying about my job also."
Patrons Brian and Sue Pidford and their daughter Bridget were unfazed about dining in a quake-risk building. "I'm not worried till it starts shaking and then I'll be out the door as fast as I can," Mr Pidford said.
Around the corner in Ghuznee St, the proprietors of the Bargain Mart and next door Ystilo are under notice to vacate by July 20 if the building is not demolished or strengthened. It is owned by Foodstuffs, which plans to demolish it to make way for a New World Metro.
Council built environment portfolio leader Iona Pannett said some of the buildings in the process of being red stickered had been under notice for up to 30 years and each had its own history.
In some cases, the issues were complex because owners were trying to develop heritage buildings. She was aware strengthening was costly and was all in favour of keeping heritage buildings - "but nobody is going to thank us if people get killed".
Council spokesman Richard MacLean said this was the first time the council had issued warning stickers as part of a programmed approach to deal with the earthquake risk. "It was always going to get to this stage at the end of this year or next year, but ... the Christchurch earthquakes have given us more reason to show a sense of urgency."
You watch the next month now the Sun has gone into Crab ( cancer ) the home - in conflict with the other planetary cardinals .. I would recommend we make our doors jackboot proof :D
