Review of Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy

Submissions closed on 13 May 2022, 05:00 PM

Dangerous building image

Whanganui District Council sought feedback on a review of its Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy.

The council is required to review its Dangerous and Insanitary Building Policy within five years of the date on which it was made. 

When assessing whether a building is “dangerous” the council will determine whether, under normal circumstances, the building is likely to cause injury or death to anyone in it or to people on another property, or damage to other property.

Under the Town Centre Regeneration and Heritage strategies, the council endeavours to actively manage heritage buildings by encouraging adaptive reuse and redevelopment to prevent them from becoming dangerous or insanitary.

In the event a heritage building is deemed to be dangerous, insanitary or affected, its status as a heritage building does not prevent that building requiring remedial action. However, those actions will take into account the heritage values seeking to be preserved and will seek to avoid demolition where possible.   

Having reviewed the policy, the council considers that it is broadly fit for purpose but would benefit from some minor changes in drafting to:

  • update the purpose to better reflect the different aspects of the policy
  • improve clarity in the procedures for considering potentially dangerous, affected or insanitary buildings
  • include a definition for “heritage building”.

Submissions closed at 5.00pm on Friday, 13 May 2022. 

Options

Amend the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy (preferred)

Under this option, the council would amend the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy to reflect the council’s approach to heritage buildings and make the drafting clearer and easier to use. 

Advantages Disadvantages
  • A Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy enables the council to manage dangerous, insanitary and affected buildings within its district.
  • The amendments to the drafting of the policy will improve the clarity of the policy.
  • Opportunity for community feedback on the policy, and how it is working in practice.
  • Additional time and resource to undertake the special consultative process under the Local Government Act 2002.

     

Retain the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy (status quo)

Under this option, the council would retain the Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy.  

Advantages Disadvantages
  • A Dangerous and Insanitary Buildings Policy enables the council to manage dangerous, insanitary and affected buildings within its district.

  • Existing policy does not fully reflect the council’s newly-adopted Heritage Strategy.
  • Drafting of the existing policy could be improved to increase the clarity of the policy.