Owners of some of Wanganui's much-admired central city buildings are shaking with trepidation.
They agree their buildings ought to be reasonably earthquake-resistant.
But they want the Wanganui District Council to: n Consult properly.
n Not be heavy-handed.
n Set a fair timetable for compliance.
These broad themes emerged yesterday when the council's hearings committee received submissions on a proposed policy for earthquake-prone buildings and dangerous and unsanitary buildings.
The focus was on earthquake-prone buildings, in particular those with heritage significance.
Under the Building Act 2004 territorial authorities are required to adopt a policy by May 31 this year.
Wanganui's proposed timeframe for building upgrades or demolition is: Buildings with special post-disaster functions (December 2007); buildings with crowds or contents of high value to the community (December 2008); buildings with heritage classification I or II or in the Old Town conservation overlay zone (December 2011); buildings with some importance (December 2011).
Environment manager James Low: "The proposed timeframes may see, inside five years, notices to upgrade or remove many of the buildings currently regarded as iconic."
As many as 50 heritage buildings in the city's commercial heart may be affected, he said.
The submissions were consistent, well compiled and, from councillors' reaction, persuasive.
Crs Rangi Wills and Nicki Higgie apologised for the inadequacy of council consultation with owners.
"We have not done our job properly," Cr Wills said.
Cr Sue Westwood said to hasten the policy process would be folly.
"If it's not done right, the effect could be disastrous," she said.
Cr Higgie acknowledged a need for another look at the timeframe.
The committee, chaired by Cr Murray Hughes, adjourned after hearing the submissions and called for an officers' report. A workshop, possibly involving representatives of submitters, is to be arranged.
It will be no surprise if the council entertains a stretching of the timeframe and tweaks other aspects of the draft policy, such as the threshold of strengthening buildings by a minimum of 34 percent to remove them from the earthquake-prone category.
Heritage buildings could go
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