Stay updated with breaking news from Jayson Ellis. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Judging by building owners’ response to earthquake strengthening to date, the probability has grown that much of Timaru, Temuka and Geraldine’s CBDs are likely to end up being demolished in coming years.
Timaru district building owners are dragging their feet over earthquake strengthening which had led the Timaru District Council to consider drastic action.
He said the boom started after Covid-19, and since then there had been a “phenomenal” amount of work. “We’re doing a lot of stuff up in Fairlie, Twizel with new builds for farmers and renos (renovations) as well; it’s not just one thing in particular. “I’ve never seen it so busy. Guys have got a years’ work ahead of them, easily.” Richard Phiskie, owner of Dimenson Building in Timaru, agreed it was extremely busy and said his company also had a whole range of work lined up. “It’s everything from new homes right through. We work in Timaru, Twizel and Otematata.”
As it has been classed by the district council as a priority building, the deadline to completeseismic work is 2033. Blakemore said while she was not surprised by the initial assessment result, she was now in limbo as to what to do next. “Based on early assesments the costs for the work will be in the hundreds of thousands and possibly in the millions, but I hope that by the time I get to actually doing further assesments, the technology for strengthening would make it cheaper. “The costs of strengthening are prohibitive, and there're all sorts of practicalities I have to go through,...