WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16 2011
MAINLAND PRESS
FREE1
EDITION
PROUDLY LOCALLY OWNED
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16 2011
Win free movie tickets P18
Top sausages & bacon P10
$327,000 greyhound P23
We have lift off
Few signs PGC building would collapse Chris Tobin
One small step: ‘Astronauts’ Liam Taylor, left and Nathan Tunbridge catch a ride on the new Comet bus service, which had its official launch yesterday. The service between Hornby and Papanui was developed by Environment Canterbury in response to changing travel patterns as Christchurch businesses have moved from the central business district and spread out over the north-west of the city. The route includes business hubs at Sheffield Crescent and the airport and connects with the existing Selwyn Star, Metro Star, Northern Star and Orbiter services. The silver buses run every 30 minutes on weekdays and at weekends and every 15 minutes at peak times. Photo: Samantha Early
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CITYWIDE Ray White New Zealand Property Manager of the Year 2011
More properties urgently needed Ph 331 6755 Ray Hastie, Samantha Risdon, Doug Nicol, Alice Beeby, Rylee Bassett 239 Opawa Rd, Opawa
We are available to help you with your accommodation needs. Prier Manson Real Estate Ltd REAA2008
AN investigation by construction experts of the PGC building has revealed that after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake on September 4, 2010, the building showed few if any signs indicating it would collapse on February 22. This information will be submitted when the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission begins a public hearing into the building’s collapse later this month. Evidence and submissions closed last Monday. On February 22 the building collapsed with the loss of 18 lives. The experts’ investigation was conducted by Beca Carter Holdings & Ferner Ltd (Beca) at the request of the Department of Building and Housing. The company stated in its report: “We have reviewed the provided information on the damage sustained in the September 4 and Boxing Day earthquakes and have concluded there were few if any signs that the building had been significantly damaged in the shaking that had occurred, or that collapse was a possibility.” Beca said that on February 22 the building collapsed eastwards, which appeared to have been started by a failure in compression of the eastern core wall between levels one and two. Shaking was much more intense than what the building was designed to withstand. It was built in 1963. “Almost no structural damage was observed between ground level and level one. The core walls above level two were reportedly largely undamaged. The east half of the roof detached itself from the core and slid partially off the level below on to the adjacent building.” Structural engineers inspected the building after the September 4 and December 26 quakes and advised the owner it was acceptable to reoccupy the building. Three engineers’ reports were prepared, which were dated September 7, October 15 and January 27. The royal commission will also consider reports from the Department of Building and Housing on the collapse of the stairwells in the 18-storey Forsyth Barr building on February 22 and the extensive damage to the Grand Chancellor hotel. These will be heard at a public hearing beginning on December 5. Evidence and submissions closed on Monday. Continued on page 3
DAVID CARTER FOR PORT HILLS Give Port Hills a strong voice in John Key’s National Party CONTACT ME:
P: 03 384 0008 E: david.carter@national.org.nz
FOLLOW ME:
www.davidcar ter.co.nz Find me on Facebook twitter.com/hondavidcarter
Authorised by D Carter, 1091 Ferry Rd, Ferrymead, Christchurch