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First conviction for neglecting seismic work
Katie Doyle, Journalist
The
owner of a quake-prone building in Lower Hutt has been
convicted for failing to carry out seismic work in what is
believed to be the first case of its kind.
The quake-prone building at 307 Jackson St, Petone Photo: Google Maps / Screenshot
The company pleaded guilty in the Hutt Valley District Court to not quake-proofing the apartment block at 307 Jackson Street in Petone's heritage precinct.
It will be sentenced in August and could be fined up to $200,000.
It's understood to be the first time a city council have taken a company to court for failing to comply with an earthquake-prone building notice.
Hutt City Council confirmed Alura is owned by well-known Lower Hutt realtors Jitesh and Jigesha Govind.
Council spokesperson Helen Oram said the prosecution followed repeated attempts since 2008 by the council to get the building's owner, Alura Ltd, to strengthen the building to a safe standard.
She said the council had been more than patient with the company but law changes, the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, and the growing body of science around earthquake-prone buildings meant urgent action was needed.
"We have issued a notice to an owner saying that they need to take reasonable grounds to make the building safe and they haven't taken that action," she said.
"So the bottom line for us is public safety and the protection of human life, so we've taken action against this company."
Tenants would now be asked to leave the property, Ms Oram said.
The council is notifying occupants to vacate the building for it to be strengthened or demolished.
"It's a decision that the council has not taken lightly because we are acutely aware of the disruption it will cause to tenants, but because we've worked with the company for a number of years [and] there have been a lot of opportunities for them to talk to [tenants]" Ms Oram said.
Other buildings had also been investigated.
"There aren't any more residentially occupied buildings in the Hutt in this situation, but there certainly are commercial buildings," she said.
"Certainly after the success of this case, we are definitely looking to take action against owners who are planning to drag their feet on strengthening work and I believe they should take notice of this."
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