A detailed seismic rating and engineering study carried out on the Whakatāne District Council Civic Centre has indicated that the strengthening work needed to raise the centre’s earthquake resistance to a suitable standard for a public or commercial building may be able to be carried out well within the $3 million budget set aside for the project.

A draft engineering report received by the Council earlier this month, which is currently being peer-reviewed, estimates that the necessary strengthening work required to lift the structure’s earthquake resistance to 80 percent or more of a new building standard can be carried out for less than $1 million. The work involved would include the installation of structural elements to support the first floor of the building; the installation of nine steel bracing posts on the northern side of the building; replacement of ceilings with a seismic-restrained suspended system; and replacement of the existing fluorescent lights with seismically-restrained LED units. 

The strengthening work is also expected to allow the continued use of the building as a Civil Defence emergency operation centre, which requires a higher level of earthquake resistance.

At last week’s extraordinary Council meeting, Mayor Tony Bonne welcomed the report findings and acknowledged the work carried out to advance the strengthening project.

“The Civic Centre serves an important role for the community and houses the majority of the Council staff who deliver the services we all rely upon,” he said. “This new engineering approach will achieve significant savings and will allow us to carry out some much-needed building improvements, all within the original cost estimate.”

Council elected members approved the project, subject to the peer review confirming the predicted seismic strengthening outcomes. Installation of air-conditioning was also approved, at an estimated cost of $900,000, subject to an energy audit and confirmation of design details and costs.