Christchurch City Council Media Advisory

Christchurch Earthquake Update

Friday 10 September 9pm <>

People with unsafe buildings that may need to be demolished are advised to contact the Christchurch City Council and follow the official process.

In all cases, the property owner and/or contractor undertaking the work is strongly advised to contact the Council before carrying out the work. Carrying out work that does not fall within these emergency provisions may affect insurance coverage and the Council's ability to authorise the work retrospectively.

Civil Defence Controller Peter Mitchell says the Council is aware a lot of demolition work is going on around the city.

"While building consents aren't available right now, there is a specific process people need to go through and we need to be kept in the loop with this."

He says the Building Act states that emergency demolition work must only be for the purpose of saving or protecting life or health, or preventing serious damage to a property.

There are also provisions in the Resource Management Act for emergency work to be carried out if someone is likely to be affected by an adverse event which requires remedial or preventative measures. Emergency work can also be carried out for any sudden event causing, or likely to cause, loss of life, injury or serious damage to property.

ENDS