One of those responsible for assessing quake-damaged buildings
in Christchurch has admitted the council never followed up on
safety concerns at a number of sites.
Twelve people were killed when the facade of the Austral building
on Colombo St came down during the February earthquake.
After the September quake, a number of safety inspections were
carried out at the building by both private and council appointed
engineers.
It was red-stickered after the Boxing Day quake and earmarked for
demolition. But there was no move to make the building safe.
"I don't recall there being discussions about safety concerns in relation to the buildings," Christchurch City Council senior planner Sean Ward told the Royal Commission of Inquiry today.
And despite the building's deterioration, no inspector ever went inside.
"The council rarely went inside buildings unless we'd been referred by an owner or engineer," said Former City Council employee Vincie Bilante.
A rapid assessment was made immediately after the Boxing Day aftershock and a more extensive, internal examination was recommended.
The city council never followed it up.
The building owners say they told the council they could not afford temporary work to make it safe, but were prevented from demolishing it by council "red tape".
They were told getting resource consent for demolition could take up to six months.
A council employee agreed the consent process needs to change.
"There needs to be some consideration for streamlining the process after an event like this," said council resource consents manager John Higgins.
Eight bus passengers and four pedestrians were killed when the building's facade collapsed into Colombo and Mollett streets during the February 22 quake.
