A building is considered earthquake-prone if an engineering analysis shows it is 33 per cent or less of the New Building Standard. In essence, this means the building has a seismic capacity less than one third of the level required for a new building.

Under new national legislation that came into effect on 1 July 2017, building owners across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula have between seven and a half and 15 years to strengthen or demolish their earthquake-prone buildings, depending on a range of factors. This list of owners includes Christchurch City Council, and due to the type and usage of our buildings, we have 15 years.

The buildings remain fit to occupy, according to advice from independent chartered professional engineers. 

The Council has already been proactively repairing many of these buildings and has ongoing programmes in place for this work to continue. A number of the earthquake-prone buildings identified are currently being repaired and strengthened, or are included in future work programmes.

Find out more about general rules around earthquake-prone buildings and how the Council can help you if you're the owner of one.

What buildings are affected?

The Council owns 41 earthquake-prone buildings across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

Of these, 27 are open for use, including 19 small, simple structures such as toilet blocks, pavilions and sheds that are used infrequently. There are also three community halls, with the remaining six buildings fulfilling a range of uses.

All the affected Council buildings have already been assessed by chartered professional engineers as part of the Detailed Engineering Evaluation (DEE) process carried out on all Council buildings after the 2010–2011 earthquakes.

Akaroa 40 Wharf Road  Pigeon Bay Hall  Open 
Akaroa 584 Little Akaloa Road Clubrooms, Little Akaloa  Open
Cashmere 59 Studholme Street Amenity block, Somerfield Park Open
Central 9 Rolleston Avenue Robert McDougall Art Gallery Closed, planned weather tightness, process for determining future use underway
Central 7 Riccarton Avenue Townend House, Botanic Gardens Opened by specific Council decision based on engineer's report
Central 230 Cambridge Terrace Edmonds Band Rotunda Closed, planned rebuild
Central 280 Durham Street Canterbury Provincial Chambers Closed, process for determining future use underway
Central 100 Kilmore Street Town Hall Closed, under repair, anticipated repaired NBS: 100 per cent
Central 159 Oxford Terrace Our City, Ōtautahi Closed, process for determining future use underway
Central 2J Riccarton Avenue Nurses' Memorial Chapel Closed, under repair and due to reopen October 2018, anticipated repaired NBS: near 67 per cent
Central 56 Avalon Street Block B, HP Smith Courts (social housing units) Closed and vacant, planned repair, anticipated repaired NBS: 67 per cent, along with Block A
Coastal 479 New Brighton Road Pavilion/toilet, Bower Park Open
Fendalton 185 Fendalton Road Shed, Fendalton Park Open
Halswell 301 Halswell Road Main clubrooms, Halswell Domain Open
Harewood 709 Harewood Road Harewood Community Centre Opened by specific Council decision based on engineer's report. Used by an early learning group.
Harewood 145A Claridges Road Harewood Plant Nursery vehicle shed Open
Harewood 145A Claridges Road Harewood Plant Nursery amenities building Open
Harewood 182 Johns Road Groynes Pump House Open
Harewood 99B Claridges Road Shed, Tulett Park Open
Heathcote 22B Cholmondeley Avenue Risingholme Hall Closed, repairs underway, anticipated repaired NBS: 67 per cent
Heathcote 22C Cholmondeley Avenue Risingholme Workshop Closed, repairs underway, anticipated repaired NBS: 67 per cent
Heathcote 192 Richardson Terrace Opawa Library Closed, planned demolition and rebuild
Heathcote 2 Barnett Avenue Citycare Workshop, Milton Street Yard Open, to be transferred to Development Christchurch Limited
Heathcote 2 Barnett Avenue Citycare Store No 3, Milton Street Yard Open, to be transferred to Development Christchurch Limited
Heathcote 60 Bay View Road Pavilion Block A, Barnett Park Open
Heathcote 113 Huxley Street Former pre-school building Closed
Hornby 34 Manurere Street Shed, Wycola Park Open
Hornby 39 Kirk Road Changing rooms, Templeton Domain Open
Innes 17A Acheson Avenue Pavilion, MacFarlane Park Open
Innes 17B Acheson Avenue Toilet, MacFarlane Park Open
Linwood 170 Buckleys Road Pavilion/toilet, Bromley Park Open
Linwood 357 Ferry Road Toilet, Edmonds Park Open
Mt Herbert 183 Purau Avenue Toilet, Purau Bay Open
Papanui 500 Papanui Road Toilet, Papanui Memorial Reserve Open
Riccarton 149 Main South Road Sockburn Service Centre Closed, planned demolition
Riccarton 149 Main South Road Sockburn Deport North East end Store Closed, planned demolition
Spreydon 85 Lyttelton Street Centennial Hall Closed
Spreydon 61 Mathers Road Pavilion, Hoon Hay Park Open
Spreydon 35 Ashgrove Terrace Shelter/Shed, Ashgrove Park Open
Waimairi 345 Memorial Avenue Storage shed, Burnside Park Open
Wairewa 12 Barclays Road Barn building, Little River Open

Section 133AL notices

Section 133AL notices have been issued under the 2016 Amendment to the Building Act, which requires earthquake-prone buildings to be strengthened or demolished within either seven and a half or 15 years, depending on the type of building and how it’s used. Until this is done, building owners must display the section 133AL notice in a prominent place so the public is aware of the building’s status.

Christchurch City Council’s consents team has sent letters containing these section133AL notices to the owners of every building in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula that is considered earthquake-prone. The Council is also receiving these letters for the earthquake-prone buildings it owns. These letters are to remind owners of their legal obligations to strengthen or demolish their buildings.

Like other building owners, the Council is required to place the notices that have been received onto affected buildings to advise the public of their earthquake-prone status. The Council is meeting legislative requirements by posting the notices on its buildings but the buildings can be occupied, as confirmed by our independent engineers.

Engineering reports

Read the Detailed Engineering Evaluations for Council earthquake-prone buildings.