Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission Te Komihana Rūwhenua o Waitaha Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission – Te Komihana Rūwhenua o Waitaha

Those who lost relatives and friends in the 22 February earthquake can be assured that there will be a very thorough inquiry into the failure of buildings that resulted in loss of life.
Chair, Justice Mark Cooper
 

Hearings About Other Buildings (Except CTV and PGC) Whose Failure Resulted in Loss of Life (Week 4)

The week beginning 13 February 2012 the Commission held public hearings about the following individual buildings whose failure resulted in loss of life:

  • 595 and 595A Colombo Street;
  • 601/601A Colombo Street;
  • 194 Gloucester Street;
  • 246 High Street; and
  • 382 Colombo Street.  

Timetable 

 DateTimeBuildingDescription Presenter
13 February 10am 595 and 595A Colombo Street

595 Colombo Street was a two-storeyed unreinforced masonry building which was situated immediately to the north of 593 Colombo Street, two doors from the corner of Colombo and St Asaph Streets and connected by a party wall.

595A was a two-storyed unreinforced masonry row building next to 595 Colombo Street which was situated on the west side of Colombo Street between St Asaph Street and Mollett Street.

595 and 595A Colombo Street hearing summary by Counsel Assisting the Commission
  10.10am     Jessica Kinder, eye witness (written statement only)
  10.18am     Denise Healy, eye witness (written statement only)
  10.20am     Hiren Patel, owner's representative for 595 Colombo Street
  10.48am     Noel Hanham, T H Consultants, structural engineer
  11.25am     BREAK
  11.40am     Noel Hanham (continued)
  12.30pm     Kevin Simcock, TM Consultants, structural engineer
  12.55pm      LUNCH
  1.40pm      Steve McCarthy, Environmental Policy and Approvals Manager, Christchurch City Council
  2.15pm      Peter Smith, Spencer Holmes, structural engineer
  2.40pm     HEARING COMPLETE
14 February 9.30am 601/601A Colombo Street 601/601A was a two-storeyed unreinforced masonry row building situated at the end of a block of buildings, on the south-west corner of Colombo and Mollett Streets. 601/601A Colombo Street hearing summary by Counsel Assisting the Commission
  9.43am     John Dallison, solicitor for owners of 601/601A Colombo Street
  10.20am     Marton Sinclair, Elliot Sinclair, structural engineer
  11.33am     BREAK
  11.50am     Paul Campbell, Opus International Consultants, structural engineer
  12.50pm     LUNCH
  1.30pm      Steve McCarthy, Environmental Policy and Approvals Manager, Christchurch City Council
  2.30pm      Peter Smith, Spencer Holmes Ltd, structural engineer
  3pm     HEARING COMPLETE
15 February 9.30am 194 Gloucester Street   194 Gloucester Street was a three-storeyed unreinforced masonry building. It had heritage and historic places classification.   194 Gloucester Street hearing summary by Counsel Assisting the Commission
  9.40am     David Wallace, Devonia Realty, owners' representative for HP79 Trustee Ltd
  10.30am     Samir Govind, BECA, Technical Director - Christchurch Structural
  11.30am     BREAK
  11.45am     Samir Govind (continued)
  12 noon     Steve McCarthy, Environmental Policy and Approvals Manager, Christchurch City Council
  1.05pm      Peter Smith, Spencer Holmes, structural engineer
  1.30pm      HEARING COMPLETE
  2.15pm 246 High Street  246 High Street was a three-storyed unreinforced masonry semi detached building.  246 High Street hearing summary by Counsel Assisting the Commission
  2.33pm     Eye witness Henriette Nass (written statement only)
  2.36pm     Eye witness Jessica Parish (written statement only)
  2.38pm     Eye witness Linda Edwards (written statement only)
  2.41pm     Christopher Chapman, NAI Harcourts, property manager
  3.05pm     Alistair Boys, Holmes Consulting Group, structural engineer
  3.30pm     BREAK
  3.45pm      Alistair Boys (continued)
  4.30pm      Steve McCarthy, Environmental Policy and Approvals Manager, Christchurch City Council
  5.15pm      Peter Smith, Spencer Holmes Ltd, structural engineer
  6pm     HEARING COMPLETE
16 February 9.30am  382 Colombo Street 382 was a two-storeyed unreinforced masonry building at the end of a row on the east side of Colombo Street in Sydenham.  382 Colombo Street hearing summary by Counsel Assisting the Commission
  9.45am     Cheryl Armour, eye witness
  10.20am    

David Yan, owner's representative

  11.30am     BREAK
  11.45am     Peter Avnell, Cunningham Lindsey, loss adjustor (by video link)
  12.20pm     Robert Ling, engineer on behalf of owner
  1pm     LUNCH
  1.45pm     Robert Ling (continued)
  2.20pm     Mark Ryburn, Opus International Consultants Ltd, structural engineer 
  3.05pm     Neville Higgs (written statement only)
  3.07pm     Mr S Jarm, owner of 380 Colombo Street (written statement only)
  3.09pm     Steve McCarthy, Environmental Policy and Approvals Manager, Christchurch City Council 
  4.15pm      Peter Smith, Spencer Holmes, structural engineer
  4.45pm     END OF HEARING

Counsel Appearing

Counsel assisting the Commission

595 and 595A Colombo Street 

  • Duncan Laing and Nadine Daines, Simpson Grierson for Christchurch City Council
  • Helen Smith, Duncan Cotterill for T H Consultants
  • Kelly Paterson, Buddle Findlay for Hiren Patel

601 and 601A Colombo Street

  • Duncan Laing and Nadine Daines, Simpson Grierson for Christchurch City Council
  • Daniel McLellan, barrister for Opus International Consultants

194 Gloucester Street

  • Duncan Laing and Nadine Daines, Simpson Grierson for Christchurch City Council
  • Garth Gallaway, Chapman Tripp, for BECA
  • Daniel McLellan, barrister, for Opus
  • Karen Welsford, Lane Neave, for Devonia Realty

246 High Street

  • Duncan Laing and Nadine Daines, Simpson Grierson for Christchurch City Council
  • Philip Rzepecky, barrister, for NAI Harcourts
  • John Hannan, DLA Phillips Fox for Holmes Consulting Group

382 Colombo Street

  • Duncan Laing and Nadine Daines, Simpson Grierson for Christchurch City Council
  • Daniel McLellan, barrister, for Opus International Consultants