THE EARTHQUAKE REVIEW

 

Clivia in our garden.

It looks so beautiful I couldn't resist posting a picture.  Damien has sprayed the garden path so that it is weed free and the clivia is blooming. Take a walk and have a look, and admire the bottom garden, too.  It is full of colour.

That Earthquake Review

As many of you will have seen in the news, the Government has issued a statement of proposed changes to the earthquake-prone building system. The aim is to make it fairer and less expensive and disruptive. Once is becomes legislation (probably next year) building owners will see a lot of easing in what has proved to be a difficult and unweildy process. It will reinvigorate communities and ease the stress for many building owners. Not only will it save many buildings, but it will make them saleable.

As the Honourable Chris Penk observed, "While well intentioned, the current system for assessing and managing seismic risk places an overwhelming burden on building owners...

"Cities and regions are losing the businesses, churches, town halls and classrooms that are central to their local economies and community spirit.

"On top of this, apartment and small business owners who cannot afford the fixes demanded by the current laws have faced years of stress and sleepless nights, as their most valuable asset has become unsaleable through no fault of their own."

And so he went on to announce "a fairer, risk-based system that will bring enormous relief ... while keeping Kiwis safe."

So, what does it mean for us?

Buildings over three storeys high that are made of concrete and are in an area of high seismic risk (like Wellington) will still be within the system. Well, Herbert Gardens is a tall concrete structure, so remediation is still required. Once the legislation is passed, the rule that fire safety must be included in the fix will be removed, but that is too late for us.  And anyway, it is reassuring that Herbert Gardens will be well within the fire code when the job is done. 

What is promising is a clause within the Government release. The assessment of our building will be different.  Instead of being tied to the New Building Code, Herbert Gardens will be judged "making use of new engineering methodologies, based on location and building type." That the building is under remediation is a very good sign.  Though only time can tell, when Herbert Gardens is reassessed that should certainly be taken into account, helping the way to a good result.

Obviously, many questions will be asked, and maybe some changes in the proposal made. The overwhelming feeling, however, is that we, the shareholders, made an excellent decision to get the Project going, one that was very well timed. 

Our historic tree

On a lighter note, I received a fun message from Sally Schoon, complete with the picture above.

Hello Joan
On Tuesday the arborist with his laptop was here using some very cool science on our gateway elm - the elm being theirs not ours, setting up for sonic tomography, where sound waves map a tree's internal structure. So I photographed him behind the tree and  showing the gear with its blue sensors positioned around the tree base.
Hope you'll like it
Sally