A6 NEWS Wednesday, September 17, 2014 , 2 days only City still struggles to process consents

quad Lois Cairns THE STORY SO FAR [email protected] ** ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●

The Christchurch City Coun- ❯❯❯❯ International Accreditation New Zealand (Ianz) stripped the cil will get another crack at city council of its accreditation to issue building consents in regaining its accreditation to July last year. issue building consents in ❯❯❯❯ The move was unprecedented but followed ongoing November but it is still strug- concerns about the council’s consenting processes, including its gling to meet processing ability to meet statutory timeframes. deadlines. ❯❯❯❯ The revocation of the council’s accreditation led to the Technically, the council is departure of city council chief executive Tony Marryatt and Fly Buys required to process building prompted the government to step in and appoint a Crown consents within 20 working Manager. days but last month only 74 per cent of the 828 consents it granted were processed was confident the council Doug Martin within that timeframe. It’s a fairly would be accredited by the It is under pressure to lift damning time of Martin’s scheduled period was the quality of the storewide MAXIMISE that figure by November departure at the end of the application. indictment on YOUR MACHINE when a team of auditors from year. In August, the council had on now International Accreditation the industry that There was ‘‘no way the to ask for further information New Zealand (Ianz) will to Government would not allow for every commercial consent return to review progress. the applications the Christchurch City Coun- application lodged. The council has already cil to process building con- ‘‘On average, it took 30 been audited by Ianz once this are incomplete. sents’’, Sparrow said. days for that information to year. Latest council figures come in,’’ Sparrow said. $ $ That audit resulted in the MBIE building systems show the bulk of the consents Regulation and consents 999999 559999 council being issued with performance general man- granted last month (717) committee chairman Cr nine corrective action ager Adrian Regnault said related to residential building David East said the council requests and eight strong rec- one of the criteria for regis- projects. got ‘‘bagged a lot’’ for the time ommendations, which Ianz tration was current accredit- In 81 per cent of cases, they it took to process consents but 156 92 says it needs to address before ation. were processed under 20 the fact 100 per cent of com- it can regain its accreditation If a territorial authority working days. In comparison, mercial applications that to issue building consents. does not hold accreditation only 33 per cent of the 111 came in during August Regaining that accredit- then someone needs to be commercial consents granted required additional infor- ation is vital because the appointed to act in its place. in August were completed mation showed it was not the council needs to renew its In the Christchurch’s case, within that statutory time- only party at fault. registration as a Building that someone is Crown Man- frame. ‘‘It’s a fairly damning Consent Authority with the ager Doug Martin. Sparrow said one of the indictment on the industry Ministry of Business, Inno- Council building control biggest factors influencing the that the applications are vation and Employment and city rebuild director Peter council’s ability to process incomplete when they submit LG (MBIE) by October 15. Sparrow said yesterday he consents within the statutory them,’’ he said. 306 Litre Samsung Bottom Mount Fridge Galaxy S5 Freezer • Titanium finish mini Smartphone • Tempered glass shelves Black Model: GC-306NP 124541 • 4.5” screen • 16GB internal memory H 1726 x W 595 x D 651mm Model: GALAXY S5 MINI BLACK 132061 $11099099 SAVE $100 76

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No-go areas: Sheffield Hall and the Springston Hall have been shut by HALLS CLOSE the Council after detailed engineering evaluations. Photo: STACY SQUIRES/FAIRFAX NZ Two community halls in Selwyn have been closed after engineering inspections found they could pose a danger should the region be rocked by another earthquake. The Selwyn District Council (SDC) has received detailed engineering evaluation (DEE) reports on the Sheffield Hall WD Cera set to hand and the Springston Hall and concluded both should be closed Elements 1TB USB 3 temporarily for public safety reasons. Portable Hard Drive Canon The Sheffield Hall report showed its age and construction • Capacity of 1TB PIXMA MG3560 Multifunction Printer Red meant it was likely to perform poorly in a future earthquake • Compatible with USB 3.0 • 4800 x 1200 DPI print resolution, super high quality images and text over safety reins and should not be occupied. and USB 2.0 • Auto double sided prints Model: WDBUZG0010BBK-PESN 123266 Model: MG3560R 125068 The hall was built in 1901 and was constructed partly in Lois Cairns ‘‘We needed a way to sys- cement render over timber framing and partly in unfilled [email protected] ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● tematically check and record concrete masonry blocks, as was typical of many older halls Plus heaps of great deals in store the structural integrity of and community buildings in New Zealand. The Canterbury Earthquake these buildings in Christ- Springston Hall, which dates back to 1907, was also found to Recovery Authority (Cera) is church and its surrounding likely perform poorly in a future earthquake. The hall has preparing to end its involve- towns,’’ Cera chief executive been shut although the new amenities block attached to it is # ment in a post-quake pro- said. still available for use. gramme to assess the struc- ‘‘This meant any safety In a statement, the SDC said the closures were temporary tural safety of Christchurch’s issues found could be while options for strengthening the halls were investigated. Interest Free building stock. addressed as quickly as poss- It has commissioned DEE reports on all its 24 community The Detailed Engineering ible,’’ he said. centres and halls. Facilities that had significant earthquake Evaluation (DEE) programme ‘‘The DEE system made damage were given priority and 15 have already been storewide was put in place following the sure that building owners assessed. Other facilities are now being evaluated. on products $699* & over. Available in store & online coloured placard system Civil took responsibility for their The Christchurch City Council has been going through a Defence used in the initial properties and could get any similar process with its buildings. It has now completed DEEs *From no deposit. Excludes all Apple Products and Gaming Consoles/Bundles. days after the quakes and saw necessary repairs under way. on all its community and housing facilities. Credit and lending criteria, $55 establishment fee 30 and $55 annual fee apply. 13,000 commercial and multi- ‘‘It also had the impact of MONTHS storey buildings in the greater giving the public confidence Christchurch area classified in the safety of the buildings, gramme to local authorities to Building owners who had as either high, medium or low and that has been a key part manage at the end of the year not yet obtained a DEE for risk. of our psychological recov- under their earthquake-prone their building would now Building owners were then ery.’’ building policies, as was stan- work with city or district asked to do structural checks Sutton said Cera planned dard practice in other parts of councils rather than Cera, in the order of priority. to hand over the DEE pro- New Zealand. Sutton said.

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Delivered to your door Police want to identify the 76 stores nationwide or pick up in store people shown in these photos. Contact the Christchurch Quadruple Fly Buys, products, GE Creditline and Gem Visa offers begin Wednesday 17th September 2014 and end Thursday 18th September 2014 or while stocks last. Personal shoppers only, trade not supplied. **4x Fly Buys are not Police Investigation Support available in conjunction with any other Fly Buys promotional offer. 4x Fly Buys consists of 1 standard Point plus 3 Bonus Points for every $25 you spend at Noel Leeming. Fly Buys Points shown reflect quadruple Points. #30 Months Interest Free on products $699 and over Terms & Conditions: From no deposit. *Excludes all Apple products and Gaming Consoles/Bundles. Credit and lending criteria, $55 establishment fee and $55 annual fee apply. Prevailing interest rate Unit, (03) 363 7495 or email: applies to any outstanding balance on the expiry of the interest free period. Credit offer is available online and instore and cannot be used in conjunction with any other Noel Leeming promotional offer. ^Includes/Free/Bonus/½ Price item This person who on August 24 This person who on September 6 This person who on September 6 available only with purchase of associated product at advertised price. +Discount terms and conditions apply: Excludes combo/package deals. ++Prices shown refl ect discount. †Price Promise Terms and conditions are available instore isu.canterbury@ or at www.noelleeming.co.nz. See www.spark.co.nz/ for full mobile terms. Excludes all Noel Leeming Clearance Centres. For more information contact us on 0800 44 44 88 or visit www.noelleeming.co.nz was in Linwood was in Christchurch City was in Christchurch City

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