MEDIA RELEASE

GOVERNMENT TO BLAME FOR LAMBTON QUAY’S DANGEROUS BUILDING

3 NOVEMBER 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union says government inaction is permitting the Environment Court’s decision to block the demolition of the hazardous Harcourts Building to leave Wellingtonians and visitors at risk of being crushed by the building's unreinforced façade.

The Taxpayer’s Union highlights council waste wherever we see it. Vacant buildings and commercial black-spots in cities are an enormous hidden waste of resources.

"Decaying buildings blight their surroundings and the lost value converts directly into lost rates," says Taxpayers' Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams. "The result is higher than necessary rates for everyone else."

"The Government should be obligating Wellington City Council to count that cost. They appear to think the only loser is the unfortunate landlord. In reality, the Environment Court’s decision risks the rating base of all regions with historic buildings and earthquake propensity."

"We are appalled that a government that is busy cranking up personal liabilities on company directors and building owners for the safety of those they can affect, is accepting no personal responsibility for the people whose safety they are threatening by preventing renewal."

"The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission urged amended law to stop a repeat of the deaths in Christchurch. Officials exercised heritage powers after the first earthquake to stop building owners from demolishing dangerous facades, so they killed many people in the second quake."

"What was the point in the Royal Commission if the Government just ignores the results?”

"The Commission specifically cautioned the Government on the danger of unreinforced masonry walls. Here, thanks to the Environment Court second guessing commercial decisions, a major risk to life in Wellington will continue pose a danger.”

"The Government has just passed a replacement Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga Act, which leaves the heritage zealots free to elevate their aesthetic preferences over lives.”

“It’s all very well for the Environment Court and Council officials to dream up hypothetical business models for the building to be strengthened, but the fact is that the building was offered to be sold for only $1 and Council turned it down."

“The building’s owner wants to demolish the building and rebuild the ‘historic’ facade in a lightweight material. Why is the Council wasting hundreds of thousands to prevent those very ratepayers from mitigating their buildings’ earthquake vulnerability?"

Recommendation 100 of the Canturbury Eathquakes Royal Commission states:

Legislation should provide that, where a building is in a state that makes demolition or protective works necessary to protect persons from injury or death, no consent is required, regardless of whether the building is protected by a district plan, or registered or otherwise protected under the Historic Places Act 1993.

The relevant volume of the report is available for download here:

ENDS

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