Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has identified a number of locations in both Queenstown and Arrowtown as potentially priority thoroughfares with earthquake-prone buildings due to unreinforced masonry.

This assessment is part of QLDC’s process of identifying priority buildings in the Queenstown Lakes District, as required under the Building (Earthquake-prone buildings) Amendment Act 2016.

QLDC Building Services Manager Chris English advised that to identify priority buildings, priority thoroughfares must first be identified.

“These locations have been identified due to their high pedestrian or vehicle movements along with having buildings on them that are fully or partly constructed of unreinforced masonry that may fall on those thoroughfares if we had a moderate earthquake.” said Mr English.

“We want to know from the community whether they agree with this list and if any other locations need to be included”.

These locations are:
> 1 – 38 Ballarat Street, Queenstown
> 4 – 26 Rees Street, Queenstown
> The pedestrian lane between 13 -17 Ballarat Street and Searle Lane
> 12 – 54 Buckingham Street, Arrowtown

The priority thoroughfares in Queenstown and Arrowtown have been identified using an approach set out by Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

If the proposal is adopted by Council at its 31 January meeting, a special consultative procedure will run from Friday 8 February until Friday 15 March 2019.

“After this proposed consultation, any building on these thoroughfares that has unreinforced masonry that is likely to fall on walkways or motorways in the event of a moderate earthquake will be deemed a priority building and remediation work will be required,” added Mr English.

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