Media Release
30 January 2013
Peer reviewed Buller X-ray building, Buller Hospital released
A final detailed engineering evaluation [DEE] report received today has determined that while the West Coast DHB’s
Buller X-ray building, a single story wooden structure at Buller Health, Westport is earthquake prone, it has no
critical structural weaknesses that would require the building to be vacated or immediate remedial work to be
undertaken.
West Coast District Health Board Programme Director, Michael Frampton said, “The DEE undertaken by Opus International
Consultants determined that the building has a seismic capacity of 20% of New Building Standards [NBS] in both
directions. Therefore this building is earthquake prone as defined by the Building Act 2004.
“However, the report concludes that this building does not require strengthening in accordance with Buller District
Council [BDC] policy, unless the DHB chooses to apply for a building consent or change of use, or if the building is
deemed dangerous by BDC.
“Like the final DEE for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service building in Greymouth, the Buller X-ray building
DEE report recommends that we consider options for strengthening this building in the medium term to at least 67% of NBS
if we intend to continue using it on a long term basis.”
The report suggests:
• strengthening of the unreinforced masonry walls;
• strengthening of selected timber framed walls; and
• strengthening of the subfloor through installation of additional fixings and bracing.
“Given that there are no critical structural weaknesses identified in this assessment, we will not be relocating staff
or closing the building,” Michael Frampton says. “Decisions about any future strengthening of this building will be made
following the work of a Ministerially-appointed Partnership Group, which meets for the first time today [30 January] to
begin work on final facility options for Greymouth and Westport. We will keep our staff and the community updated as we
progress the options, ”says Michael Frampton.
ENDS