Media Release
10 October 2011
More Public Hearings Scheduled by Quakes Royal Commission
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has scheduled public hearings into the failure of the PGC, Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor buildings following receipt of the results of technical investigations into these buildings by the Department of Building and Housing.
The PGC building hearing will be held in the week beginning 28 November 2011 followed by a hearing on the Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor buildings in the week beginning 5 December 2011.
There is still uncertainty about the timing of the hearing concerning the CTV building because the Department of Building and Housing’s technical investigation has not yet been completed. On the assumption that the report is available this year, the Commission has made a provisional decision to conduct that hearing in March 2012.
The Commission’s investigation into other building failures that caused loss of life is ongoing. It intends to conduct hearings into some of those failures in the weeks commencing 12 December 2011, and 23 and 30 January 2012.
Last week the Commission announced a hearing will be held on the subject of new building technologies in the week commencing 7 February 2012.
The Commission will also hold a hearing on the training of engineers and the organisation of the engineering profession. This is likely to happen in February 2102.
Once there is more certainty about the timing of the CTV building hearing, the Commission will set dates for hearings in the first quarter of 2012 covering building assessments after earthquakes and the development of building codes and design rules.
The hearings will be held at St Teresa’s church hall on the corner of Puriri Street and Riccarton Road in Riccarton, Christchurch.
The Hearings Schedule is available on the Commission's website. Other hearings to be scheduled if required.
The Commission has also received and published two international peer reviews of a report about the performance of unreinforced masonry buildings in the 2010/2011 Canterbury earthquake swarm. The reviews were prepared by Fred Turner, structural engineer from Sacramento in California and Bret Lizundia, principal at consulting engineering company Rutherford & Chekene in San Francisco.
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About the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission
The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission in Christchurch was established in response to the building failure and loss of life caused by the Canterbury earthquake in February 2011.
The purpose of the Commission is to examine issues around the built environment in the Christchurch central business district and to inquire into the adequacy of relevant building codes and standards into the future.
The Commission is required to provide the Governor-General with an interim report by 11 October 2011 and a final report by no later than 11 April 2012.
For Further Information:
Robin Major
Senior Communications Advisor
Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission
Ph + 64 (0)3 741 3004 or + 64 (0)21 621 656
Email: robin.major@royalcommission.govt.nz
