A building is considered earthquake-prone if an engineering analysis shows it is 33% 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 7.5 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, for most of our buildings, we have a period of 15 years from the date that the earthquake-prone building notice was issued.
Other than the buildings which are under repair, our 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 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 the general rules around earthquake-prone buildings and how the Council can help you if you're the owner of one.
The Council owns 43 earthquake-prone buildings across Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.
Of these, 28 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.
Council ward | Address | Building name | Current status | Asset owner | Due date for completion of work | Work status/intentions |
Banks Peninsula | 4313 Christchurch Akaroa Road | Little River Coronation Library, Awa-Iti Domain | Closed | Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage | 28.01.35 | In Progress. To tender in 2021. |
Banks Peninsula | 584 Little Akaloa Road, Little Akaloa | Clubrooms | Open | Parks Unit, Local Parks | 19.02.33 | LTP planning |
Banks Peninsula | 183 Purau Avenue, Purau | Toilet, Purau Bay | Open | Parks Unit, Local Parks | 22.02.33 | Review of best future location in-progress (including sea level rise and flood risk). |
Banks Peninsula | 40 Wharf Rd, Pigeon Bay | Pigeon Bay Hall | Open | Community Facilities | 01.02.33 | Strengthening project underway but put on-hold in 2020 due to funding pressure. |
Cashmere | 66 Colombo Street | South Library | Open (with temporary strengthening) | Libraries Information Unit | 14.08.34 | Repair and strengthening project planning underway. Funding and timing of subsequent stages still to be confirmed. |
Cashmere | 59 Studholme Street | Amenity Block, Somerfield Park | Open | Parks Unit, Sports Parks | 08.02.33 | LTP planning |
Cashmere | 63P Waimea Terrace | Beckenham Bowling Club | Open | Building not owned by Council but on Council land | 23.01.33 | Building not owned by Council. |
Central | 230 Cambridge Terrace | Edmonds Band Rotunda | Closed | Heritage Properties | 30.01.33 | Strengthening/repair project due for completion in April 2021. |
Central | 280 Durham Street | Canterbury Provincial Chambers | Closed | Heritage Properties | 12.08.25 | No funding in current LTP for repair strategy. Future users and potential funders being actively explored in 2021. |
Central | 159 Oxford Terrace | Our City O-Tautahi Old Municipal Chambers | Closed | Heritage Properties | 10.04.25 | JV with Box 112 will ensure deadline is met. |
Central | 7 Riccarton Avenue | Townend House, Botanic Gardens | Opened by specific Council decision based on engineer's report | Parks Unit,Botanic Gardens | 19.08.25 | Project to review options to commence in 2021 – including possible future replacement. Funding available in LTP. |
Central | 9 Rolleston Avenue | Robert McDougall Art Gallery | Closed | Heritage Properties | 19.08.25 | Council has made safe and weather tight. Likely to be included with overall Canterbury Museum base isolation approach with some Council support, if Museum can meet their overall funding target. A new Notice designating the building as a Priority Building received on 30.04.21. This changes the Due Date from 19.02.33 to 19.08.25. |
Coastal | 479 New Brighton Road | Pavilion toilet, Bower Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 16.01.33 | Reviewing location of facilities at this park. |
Fendalton | 185 Fendalton Road | Shed, Fendalton Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 12.02.33 | LTP planning |
Harewood | 145A Claridges Road | Harewood Plant Nursery amenities building | Open | Parks Unit,Nurseries | 19.12.32 | LTP planning |
Harewood | 99B Claridges Road | Shed, Tulett Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 18.04.33 | LTP planning |
Harewood | 709 Harewood Road | Harewood Community Centre | Opened by specific Council decision based on engineer's report | Community Facilities | 09.06.25 | Detailed design underway. Completion anticipated by 2022. |
Hornby | 34 Manurere Street | Shed, Wycola Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 20.02.33 | LTP planning |
Hornby | 34 Manurere Street | Hockey pavilion, Wycola Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 20.02.33 | LTP planning |
Hornby | 524 Pound Road | Yaldhurst Memorial Hall | Closed | Community Facilities | 27.07.35 | Have engaged with local community user group who have contested seismic rating. Building included in recent ‘Streamlining Council’s Property Disposal Process’ Report to Council |
Hornby | 8 Wycola Avenue | Hei Hei Community Link | Open | Community Facilities | 23.01.33 | LTP planning |
Innes | 17A Acheson Avenue | Pavilion, Macfarlane Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 30.01.33 | LTP planning |
Innes | 17B Acheson Avenue | Toilets, Macfarlane Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 30.01.33 | LTP planning |
Innes | 159 Kainga Road | Kainga Hall | Open | Building not owned by Council but on Council land. Council owns adjoining toilet which is not EPB | 11.01.33 | Building not owned by Council |
Linwood | 170 Buckleys Road | Pavilion/toilet, Bromley Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 05.02.33 | LTP planning |
Linwood | 357 Ferry Road | Toilet, Edmonds Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 22.12.32 | LTP planning |
Papanui | 500 Papanui Road | Toilet, Papanui Memorial Reserve | Open | Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage | 22.08.25 | High priority LTP planning. Funding available in LTP through reprioritisation |
Riccarton | 372 Riccarton Road | Upper Riccarton War Memorial Library | Closed | Building not owned by Council but on Council land | 09.04.25 | Building not owned by Council. Council facilitating demolition on behalf of the Trust who own the building |
Spreydon | 35 Ashgrove Terrace | Shelter/Shed, Ashgrove Park | Open | Parks Unit, Local Parks | 30.01.33 | LTP planning |
Spreydon | 85 Lyttelton Street | Centennial Hall | Closed | Community Facilities | 19.02.33 | Building included in recent ‘Streamlining Council’s Property Disposal Process’ Report to Council |
Spreydon | 61 Mathers Road | Pavilion, Hoon Hay Park | Open | Parks Unit,Sports Parks | 15.01.33 | LTP planning |
Waimairi | 345 Memorial Avenue | Storage shed, Burnside Park | Open | Parks Unit, Sports Parks | 15.01.33 | LTP planning |
Heathcote | 239 Main Road, Moncks Bay | Christchurch Yacht Club | Open | Building not owned by Council but on Council land | 03.09.27 | Building not owned by Council |
Linwood | 63 Ruru Road | Garage/Lean – To (Building (ID 297742 - ID 297309 Smart map) | Closed | Parks Unit | 06.11.28 | LTP planning |
Banks Peninsula | 4313 Christchurch Akaroa Road | Little River War Memorial Gates | Open | Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage | 11.11.28 | LTP planning |
Burwood | 230 Pages Road (aka Shuttle Drive) | Super Shed | Open | Parks Unit | 12.05.36 | LTP planning |
Banks Peninsula | 4 Donald Street, Lyttelton | Old Name (The Stables) | Closed | Parks Unit Garden and Heritage | 27.11.28 | LTP planning |
Banks Peninsula | 4313 Christchurch Akaroa Road | Old Shower/Toilet block now used as Storage Shed | Closed | Parks Unit, Garden and Heritage | 31.11.28 | LTP planning |
Central | 6 Riccarton Avenue | 3 Bay Garage North Hagley Park | Closed | Parks Unit Garden and Heritage | 13.09.24 | LTP planning |
Central | 6 Riccarton Avenue | North Hagley Park Pavilion Building (open 3 Bays) | Closed | Parks Unit Garden and Heritage | 25.12.28 | LTP planning |
Banks Peninsula | 12 Barclays Road, Little River | Shed / Garage Heritage Park | Closed | Parks Unit Garden and Heritage | 26.07.36 | LTP planning |
Cashmere | 54 Colombo Street | Former Control Building | Open | 3 Waters and Waste | 30.07.36 | LTP planning |
Banks Peninsula | 21 Marine Drive, Diamond Harbour | Diamond Harbour Changing Shed Building | Closed | Parks Unit | 28.03.29 | LTP planning |
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.
Read the Detailed Engineering Evaluations for Council earthquake-prone buildings.