Building to be demolished

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

A dangerous building in Wyndham is to be demolished to protect the public. Southland District Council building control manager Kevin O'Connor said Council had worked hard to try to save the building, both with the present owner and also with possible purchasers, but has been left with no choice apart from demolition. Council last year received a report of falling masonry from the building in Balaclava Street on to the footpath in front of it. The two-storey building already had a dangerous building notice on it because of a structurally inadequate stairway, and inadequate fire safety requirements.

Staff investigating found plasterwork from the parapet had fallen to the footpath below, potentially endangering the public. Further investigation revealed the general deterioration of the structural brickwork and the parapet's connection to the building was failing.

"The plasterwork of the parapet is in a poor state of repair as is the structural brickwork of the building in general. The separation of the parapet from its supporting brickwork clearly presents a significant and potentially life-threatening hazard to the general public using the footpath below," Mr O'Connor said.

Council has worked with the owner to try to get remedial work done on the property, but nothing has been forthcoming and the owner is unlikely to be able to fund any work.

A hoarding has been put around the building preventing anyone using the footpath in front of the building.

A quote from Scobies Transport has been accepted and demolition is expected to get under way once Council has District Court approval to go ahead.

"We don't like creating holes in the main street of Wyndham, but have been forced to take this action through lack of cooperation from the building owner.

"We have very important responsibilities under the Building Act to maintain public safety and this building in its current state represents a very significant hazard to the public which requires urgent action," Mr O'Connor said.

Council will make every attempt to recover all costs from the building owner.

Who to contact

If you would like to discuss a matter on this page, feel free to contact us:

Southland District Council
P.O. Box 903
Invercargill 9840
Phone: 0800 732 732
Fax: 0800 732 329
emailsdc@southlanddc.govt.nz