Building Amendment Bill to provide new system to manage buildings in emergency

Local government will soon have sweeping powers to demolish unsafe buildings in the event of a natural disaster, and could also save buildings from being knocked down, Timaru's CBD group chairman says.

The Building Amendment Bill, which passed its third and final reading in parliament last week, provides a new system for managing buildings after an emergency, and legislative powers for investigating building failures.

It will allow councils the ability to demolish or carry out work to any buildings that pose an immediate risk to life, or risk damage or disruption to neighbouring buildings or public thoroughfares.

It also requires building owners to provide information, such as detailed engineering assessments, to help determine the risks posed by their buildings, and require damaged buildings to be repaired or demolished on a case-by-case basis, as appropriate.

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