The Local Government and Environment Committee yesterday released an interim
select committee report on the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment
Bill. The Select Committee has considered 121 public submissions, as well as
receiving detailed advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment, Parliamentary Counsel Office and the Regulations Review Committee.
As a result, the Select Committee is considering a wide range of potential
changes to the original bill, which would significantly alter the version of the
bill initially released. The purpose of the interim report is to invite written
feedback from previous submitters on the specific changes which have been
proposed. At a high level, these changes include:
reducing the scope of buildings covered by the bill, by excluding buildings
such as farm buildings, retaining walls, fences and storage tanks;
introducing high, medium and low seismic zones of risk;
introducing a new tiered timeframe for identification and remediation of
earthquake-prone buildings;
requiring earthquake-prone buildings to be upgraded when substantial
alterations are being made; and
adding new provisions relating to disability and fire access.
The deadline for feedback on these changes is 16 July 2015. The Select
Committee is due to produce its final report to the House on 30 July 2015.
This publication is necessarily brief and general in nature. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this publication.
