School 'Not Told of Hall Risk'

Bishop wants ‘Fix or shut’ buildings call beach in Enforce standards, Square Marc Greenhill engineer urges [email protected] Ben Heather An engineer from Lewis Christchurch’s Cathedral [email protected] Bradford inspected the build- Square could be transformed ing after the September 2010 into an artificial beach with All quake-prone Canterbury quake. They found some large movie screens. buildings should be streng- damage and recommended Bishop of Christchurch thened or shut down, an repairs, which were then Victoria Matthews said the inquiry has heard. done. However, engineers proposal could help make the Craig Lewis, the director of were not asked to recheck the earthquake-damaged square engineering firm Lewis Brad- building after the Boxing Day ‘‘welcoming and engaging’’ ford, told the Canterbury 2010 quake. again. She spoke about the earthquake royal commission Lewis said the significant idea during the visit of the ongoing shaking meant a damage caused by the Boxing Australian governor-general minimum building strength Day shake had been a ‘‘wake- to Christchurch. standard needed to be en- up call’’ for engineers and led ‘‘One conversation that’s forced. to a more cautious approach. just beginning is to do a ‘‘There needs to be more ‘‘I often think, I wish I had Re:Start here [in the Square] immediacy and more definite picked up the phone and and having a giant movie boundaries for engineers to called a number of clients screen, [and] artificial beach work with,’’ he said. ‘‘It is [after Boxing Day],’’ he said. and trying to bring people better to be cautious than ‘‘In reality and given the into a place that has actually suffer the events that time commitments, we often caused fear to make it wel- occurred on February 22.’’ didn’t do that.’’ coming and engaging again,’’ An ‘‘absolute minimum’’ Christchurch property de- Matthews said. standard should be set at least veloper Antony Gough said The project would be si- at 33 per cent of the Building zero tolerance for quake- milar to City Mall’s Re:Start Code, he said. prone buildings was ‘‘a bit shopping area, she said. As any buildings below 33 extreme’’. ‘‘What they prob- ‘‘People [are] saying, ‘What per cent are already defined ably need to do is identify would happen if this became a as ‘‘earthquake-prone’’ by those buildings and give a place of creativity and not a law, evidence thus far has shorter time period for them ruin?’ ’’ Matthews said, ad- shown many councils have to be fixed. [Otherwise] you ding any work in the Square taken a do-nothing approach, could have wholesale shut- would depend on the demo- giving owners decades to down of various areas of New lition of buildings and the fu- upgrade under-strength build- Zealand.’’ Timed out: Southbridge Four Square owner Gary Williams suspects his Photos: JOSEPH JOHNSON/FAIRFAX NZ ture of the Christ Church Ca- ings. Cutting compliance pe- undamaged building was ‘‘brought up’’ because of its age. thedral. This was not appropriate riods from 15 to 30 years down The cathedral had suffered for Canterbury and the law to five would be a better move, further damage in the past needed to give authorities he said. two weeks and could be more power to shut down ‘‘It certainly gives a strong weakened by central-city buildings, Lewis said. indication if you don’t get demolition work, she said. ‘‘There still isn’t a means your act together, you might ‘‘Parts that are now lean- for a building to be effectively find you have to lock your School ‘not told of hall risk’ ing were upright and rela- shut down.’’ tenants out. This is not a tively whole [two weeks ago],’’ This would not necessarily particularly strong economic Tina Law and Michael Wright Matthews said. protect people in a quake of time for anyone. I think we [email protected] ‘‘I would not go where I the scale of February 22’s probably don’t need that on [email protected] was less than two weeks ago 6.3-magnitude tremor, but top of everything else that’s and we’ve only had a [magni- would minimise the danger in going on.’’ A primary school hall has tude] 4.3 [quake]. We all know less violent shakes. Institution of Professional been deemed potentially there’s a chance of a [magni- The comments were made Engineers New Zealand quake-prone without its staff tude] 5, so it’s pretty depress- during a hearing into the deputy chief executive Nicki being informed. ing actually.’’ collapse of the building at 753 Crauford said demanding A list of 37 potentially Last night, Matthews’ to 759 Colombo St in the immediate strengthening earthquake-prone buildings spokesman, Philip Baldwin, February 2011 quake, which could be too tough. in Selwyn has also identified said he understood the idea killed French Canadian tour- ‘‘It’s just not practical to two Lincoln University build- had been mooted by owners of ist Marielle Falardeau. say: ‘Let’s get people out of all ings, which Vice-Chancellor buildings on the Square. Peter Smith, an engineer of those buildings until it’s Roger Field said was incor- The Press was unable to who reviewed the building’s [strengthened]’, but I can see rect as both met the Building reach Matthews for further collapse for the commission, some logic in saying anything Code. comment. Re:Start manager supported Lewis’ comments below 33 per cent in Canter- The list of ‘‘potentially Listed: Lincoln University’s Ivey Memorial Hall, above, and the Ellesmere Paul Lonsdale was not aware and said a new approach was bury right now, potentially earthquake-prone’’ buildings Historical Society building in Leeston are two of 37 of potentially of the plans but said he needed to better protect lives. there’s a risk. was published this week by earthquake-prone buildings in Selwyn. Photos: JOSEPH JOHNSON/FAIRFAX NZ backed any idea that brought ‘‘It is by taking action to ‘‘[It’s] very difficult to the Selwyn District Council. more life into the central city. progress earthquake prone justify economically. Emo- The Building Act defines pen said. The hall had been hall was earthquake-prone. versity or Southbridge School building was on the list as he ‘‘It will interesting to see policy of local authorities that tionally it’s not difficult to an earthquake-prone building inspected three times since Lincoln University’s Hud- hall yesterday, but earlier had ‘‘no earthquake damage how a sandy environment we will avoid that loss of life,’’ justify at all.’’ as one that is at risk of col- the September 2010 quake. son Hall, Johnston Memorial said all commercial buildings whatsoever’’. goes in the Square because it he told the commission. lapse in a moderate earth- Engineers inspected the Laboratory and the Ivey Me- in the district were being ‘‘From what I understand is a bit of a wind tunnel,’’ he The Canterbury Earth- quake, or which does not meet school again on Monday, but morial Hall were also on the assessed. Selwyn District Council has said. ‘‘From a support per- quake Recovery Commission at least 33 per cent of the Verstappen said he believed council’s quake-prone list. Being earthquake-prone brought my building up be- spective, we’d be right behind has demanded a detailed current Building Code. this was part of a ministry Field said the list was inac- did not mean the buildings cause of its age. ‘‘Even though it..’’ engineering report for all The council immediately programme to check all curate as the lab met 100 per would fall down in the next I’ve got no damage and I have Gap Filler has proposed an Christchurch commercial closed and fenced or signpost- school buildings in the region. cent of the Building Code and shake, he said. never made a claim, that’s artificial beach in the central buildings to determine their ed all its buildings on the list. An Education Ministry the hall met over 34 per cent Buildings found to meet be- just the way it is.’’ city before, but co-founder strength. Southbridge School princi- spokesman said the Canter- of the code. tween 33 and 66 per cent of the The building was between and project co-ordinator In the past three months, pal Peter Verstappen said he bury Earthquake Recovery The Ivey Memorial Hall code would stay on the list 80 and 90 years old, Williams Coralie Winn said the group many buildings in Canter- was unaware the school’s hall Authority (Cera) had told it a has been closed since it was because a new policy has a 67 said, and its double-brick was not involved in the bury have been closed volun- had been considered poten- detailed engineering evalu- damaged in the September 4 per cent target, he said. exterior made it an obvious Cathedral Square plan. tarily after inspection found tially earthquake-prone. ation was required for the quake, Field said. Businesses on the list were candidate for being flagged ‘‘It’s the first I’ve heard of them to be under-strength. He had had no notification Southbridge hall. He said the university’s able to continue trading, earthquake-prone. it,’’ she said. ‘‘We certainly The unreinforced masonry from the council or the Min- ‘‘As a result we have en- inclusion built unease among pending consideration of Dunsandel Tavern owner hope to do a beach project at building which collapsed on istry of Education, which gaged structural engineers to the staff and students. their engineering assess- Bruce Reilly had been told he some point.

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