The Martinborough Town Hall – Earthquake-prone Building

As many locals may have noticed, the Martinborough Town Hall is displaying a ‘yellow sticker’. South Wairarapa District Council would like to provide information around its Earthquake-prone Building policy and what the stickering means.

The Building Act 2004 requires territorial authorities to develop their own earthquake-prone building policy and to assess the buildings within their territory against this policy.  Martinborough Town Hall has been determined to be an earthquake-prone building within the meaning of the Act.

Building owners have 15 years from the time the policy was adopted to either strengthen the building or to demolish all or part of it so it is not earthquake-prone. The yellow sticker provides formal notification of the building’s earthquake-prone status, but does not mean that the building cannot be used.

Council has worked with engineers to determine the requirements for strengthening the hall, and planning for this is part of the larger work being done by the Martinborough Town Hall Working Party.

The building was inspected by an engineer after both the 21 July and 16  August 2013 Seddon earthquakes. After consultation with the engineer South Wairarapa District Council has deemed the Martinborough Town Hall may remain available for public use.

In the event of an earthquake
Drop, cover and hold until the shaking stops.
After the shaking stops please exit via side exits, these are:
1. Exit to the playground (south side of the building)
2. Exit out the kitchen via the annex (supper room)
DO NOT exit out the main front entrance of the building in case there is damage to the front parapet.
 
The Council is continuing to monitor the condition of the Hall and will advise of any change of status if it occurs.