Wanganui District Council is working through a process to identify potentially earthquake-prone buildings (EQPB) and notify the owners of those buildings about their responsibilities.

The issue was discussed at the recent Council meeting and is considered a priority to ensure that building owners and the wider community are aware of what is required and their responsibilities.

"The council wears a number of hats in respect of earthquake-prone buildings," Mayor Annette Main said.

"Our first role is to adopt an EQPB policy for our district which sets out the seismic standard for buildings and timeframes for upgrading to that standard.

"The second role is to manage all council-controlled earthquake-prone buildings, determine priorities and the level of upgrading required to comply with the EQPB policy and community expectations."

Wanganui is classed as a moderate risk seismic area and the council has recently undertaken a series of workshops to get up to speed on the background information, the status of council-owned buildings and how council could proceed in the future with public and private buildings which may be earthquake-prone.

"It is important to remember as we proceed through these issues as a community that the February earthquake in Christchurch resulted in ground shaking that was far greater than a 2500 year design quake.

"We now need to work with our community on the processes, options and programme to deal with our buildings in line with our Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy. This work will also feed into the 10-Year Plan and review of the District Plan in 2011/12."

Why does council need an earthquake-prone buildings policy?
The Building Act 2004 requires each territorial authority to have an earthquake-prone buildings (EQPB) policy for its district. The policy is intended to set out the approach that the territorial authority is taking with regard to earthquake-prone buildings, in particular the upgrade of buildings. The policy does not include small residential buildings.

Wanganui District Council adopted its initial earthquake-prone building policy in June 2006 and adopted a revised version in 2009 during the 10-Year Plan review. Essentially, under the Building Act an earthquake-prone building has strength that is 33% or less of the seismic loading standard for new buildings.

How do I know if my building is earthquake-prone?
The only effective way to determine whether a building may be earthquake-prone is for a qualified structural engineer to do an Initial Evaluation Procedure (IEP).

Council has completed IEPs for all council-owned Category A and B buildings and we are now working through a process of informing staff and building occupiers
 
Until all buildings in Wanganui have had an IEP it is not clear how many earthquake-prone buildings there are. However, it is expected there will be a significant number because of the age and construction of many of the buildings.

The EQPB Policy identifies the following categories:
Category A: buildings with special post-disaster functions (for example, the Municipal Building in Guyton Street)
Category B: buildings that contain people in crowds or contents of high value (for example, the Sarjeant Gallery)
Category C: all other buildings not in Category A or B

Is there a timeframe for the work to be undertaken?

Timeframe for building owners to have an initial evaluation procedure (IEP) undertaken on their building and submitted to council:

• Category A – December 2010 - buildings with special post-disaster functions.
• Category B – December 2011 - buildings that contain people in crowds or contents of high value.
• Category C – December 2012 - all other buildings not in Category A or B.

Timeframe for building compliance with the council’s EQPB Policy:

• Category A – Started compliance work by 2020 and completed work by 2030.
• Category B – Started compliance work by 2020 and completed work by 2030.
• Category C – Started compliance work by 2030 and completed work by 2040.

Council has also identified four Category A non-public EQPBs, 79 Category B non-public EQPBs and approximately 250 Category C non-public EQPBs in Wanganui.

In addition to getting more detailed assessments of each potentially earthquake-prone building to determine the actual strength and resulting options, council will work with other building owners to ensure they meet the EQPB Policy timeframes for initial evaluation and building compliance work.

Where can I find more information?
Further information click on the links below or call Customer Services, phone 349 0001.

Information about earthquake risk in Wanganui (PDF, 83KB)
Information for building owners (PDF, 49KB)
Earthquake-Prone Buildings Policy (PDF, 35KB)

Spring time fun for the school holidays

The spring school holidays are a great time to get out and about and enjoy the range of facilities, activities and events that Wanganui has to offer.

Wanganui Library Spring Fiesta
Wanganui Library is celebrating spring with a fiesta of events from October 8-23, (the Library is closed on Labour Day, October 24). There’s storytelling for all age groups and the popular evening event 'Books by Moonlight'.

For further information and a full programme of events call in to the Davis Central City Library, Queens Park, or visit the library website.

Parks and Reserves
Wanganui's parks and reserves offer free and fun places to visit with something for the whole family.

Bason Botanic Gardens has 25 hectares covered in parkland, lawns, lakeside walks, BBQ's and much more. The spring flowers provide a beautiful backdrop for a family picnic.

Virginia Lake is another popular spot.  A walk around the lake is a great way to spend an hour and encounters with the variety of birdlife add to the enjoyment. With a playground and café it’s an ideal place to spend a holiday afternoon.

Kowhai Park is a family favourite with the iconic playground just one of many attractions. The fitness trail, riverside walk, cycling trails, skate park and picnic areas are all year round attractions and the Tot Town railway runs at weekends.

Visitor Information Centre
If you’re looking for information on events, what's happening and when throughout the holidays, head down to the Visitor Information Centre on Taupo Quay. Open everyday, staff are up-to-date with what's on in Wanganui. You can book your tickets for the PS Waimarie holiday sailings and Department of Conservation huts.

With the summer holidays just around the corner the Visitor Centre staff can also give advice on accommodation, itineraries and transport for any trips within New Zealand. As agents for Intercity, Naked Bus, Bluebridge Ferry and Interislander they are a one-stop-shop for all your travel and accommodation needs.

Real Whanganui Festival
The festival runs until October 23 and there are still lots of events to enjoy. Visit the Real Whanganui Festival website to see what's happening or pick up a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre.

Shaping Wanganui is the name given to the District Plan review process, which Council must complete every 10 years.

We are now entering phase two - residential areas and want to know what you like best about where you live, what don’t you like so much and what would be the key to unlocking the best that your neighbourhood could be.

The Residential zone deals with everything from noise to how close you can build to a boundary, home occupations, advertising and community facilities such as schools
and places of worship.

As part of the review we will also be looking at local commercial areas, parks and reserves and what areas should be residential.

How can you be involved?
• Drop in and talk to us at our Open Days
• Invite us to visit your organisation

Open Days are being held at:

Majestic Square, Monday, 10 October 2011
10.30am to 2.00pm

Gonville Café Library, Wednesday, 12 October 2011
10.30am to 2.00pm

Send comments and feedback to Robyn Butler, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui or email. For further information click here.

Wanganui Libraries are offering to clear overdue fees in return for at least one can of food, which will be used to help two local charities.

The charities to benefit are the SPCA and Wanganui City Mission and the amnesty runs until October 16. Bring in your can to any of the Wanganui Libraries and your fees will be cleared.

Public Art Steering Group

As part of Council's implementation of the Public Art Strategy, the Public Art Steering Group meets regularly to advise on and select art initiatives for public spaces in Wanganui. The group's work includes:

• commissioning work (when appropriate)
• advising on suitability of work
• acting as an advocate for community-based initiatives
• ensuring the Public Art Strategy guidelines for work are met

The Steering Group has representation from Whanganui iwi; artists/curators (including the Sarjeant Gallery’s Senior Curator); the wider community and Wanganui District Council, which becomes the owner and caretaker of public art on behalf of the community.

The next meeting of the Public Art Steering Group is Wednesday, 12 October 2011.

Should you or your organisation wish to table a submission please contact Don Hunter, Arts Coordinator as soon as possible, phone 349 0001 or email.

Computer Clubhouse

The Awa City Computer Clubhouse will be closed during the school holidays from October 10 to October 24.

The Clubhouse is at 7 Park Place and offers 10 to 18 year olds a free, safe place to access a huge variety of high-tech state of the art technology, including 15 Macs and a production studio. 

For more information email Masina Kenworthy.

Proposal to Stop Road – Part Indus Street, Wanganui
Section 342 Local Government Act 1974

The Wanganui District Council proposes to stop that portion of the road described in the Schedule below between Ingestre Street and the boundary of No. 6 Indus Street.

The Wanganui District Council will retain ownership of the balance of Indus Street from the boundary of No. 6 Indus Street to its merger with Purnell Street.

It is also intended that a right-of-way comprising 285m2 will be created over Section 3 in favour of Pt. Lot 1 Deposited Plan 34545 being the land in Certificate of Title WN43A/510.

S.O. Plan No. 444646, showing the area of road to be stopped, is now open for public inspection at the Customer Services Desk, Wanganui District Council Municipal Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui between  8.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Any objection to the proposal must be lodged in writing with the Chief Executive, Wanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Wanganui, within 40 days of 29 September 2011 being the date of the first publication of this notice.  This is the second publication of this notice.
             
Schedule
0.0846 Ha more or less shown as Section 3 on S.O. Plan 444646

Vacancies

For more details about the following vacancies click here.

Principal Planner
Applications close Friday, 7 October 2011

Casual Parking Officer
Applications close Sunday, 9 October 2011

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings.
           
Youth – October 17 (4.00pm, Council Chamber)

Wanganui Rural Community Board – October 19 (4.00pm, Committee Room 2)

Infrastructure and Property – October 25 (2.00pm, Council Chamber)

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.