Quake rules make tourist drawcard too costly to keep

Engineers say the castle's walls could withstand most quakes

Larnach Castle, one of Dunedin's most notable heritage attractions, could be shut and sold because of earthquake strengthening rules, its owners fear.

The Barker family worry that they might have to raise a seven-figure sum to comply with new standards they say their Category 1 historic property should not have to meet.

If they had to find the cash, they might re-evaluate their 37-year commitment to the tourism drawcard, and leave the "expensive and unnecessary problem to someone else".

"These new rules will just add an on-paper liability that we shouldn't have to have, and which we probably couldn't afford," Norcombe Barker said.

The Building Act 2004 changes the definition of a moderate earthquake, and requires all councils to develop a policy to deal with at-risk buildings.

The Dunedin City Council's draft strategy requires buildings four or more storeys high, those with an occupancy of more than 500 people, and properties listed as a Category 1 Historic Place, to be assessed for compliance in two years.

That policy, which in Dunedin is still open for public consultation, has caused a stir among New Zealand's heritage building owners, who were still unconvinced they will not have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply.

Mr Barker said engineers had advised that the castle, with its 90cm-thick walls, would survive "the sort of earthquake that would leave the rest of New Zealand in rubble".

But in case of changes, large portions would be removed or altered, leaving the family custodians of a "Disneyland replica, not the real thing".

An Auckland analyst suggests that, nationally, the changes could cost at least $100,000 a storey, a total Mr Barker considered "optimistic".

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES