Five buildings in the Masterton district have been yellow-stickered after Cyclone Gabrielle blew through the area.
Masterton District Council [MDC] said it carried out rapid building assessments in the Tinui area to determine whether buildings affected by flooding due to the cyclone were safe to occupy.
To enable the management of ongoing risks to people from buildings, the Tinui township and surrounding areas – including Castlepoint, Mataikona and Whakataki – have been “designated” under the Building Act 2004
The designation allows MDC to take actions under the Act to manage buildings in an emergency, including the ability to: enter buildings; complete post-event assessments; direct the evacuation of buildings; and put in place measures for protecting buildings and keeping people at a safe distance.
The designation also allows the council to place notices and signs on buildings, direct the owners of the building or land to provide information, direct works to remove or reduce risks, and direct works for long-term use or occupation of a building. Five buildings in the designated area, understood to be in Tinui, have received yellow placards.
A further four buildings have received white placards.
MDC said yellow placards – otherwise known as yellow stickers – indicate a building may have sustained moderate damage and access is restricted.
“This generally means either some identified areas of the building pose a significant hazard and cannot be used, or that the public cannot enter except under supervision for a limited time on essential business.”
The council said reasons for entering the building could include emergency or assessment purposes, or removing critical business records, valuables, and property.
A white placard means that a building has suffered light or no damage and can be used. A white placard doesn’t necessarily mean the building is safe, as there could be unseen damage.
MDC said that owners of white-stickered buildings may still want to get their own engineering checks done.
It said it would not be publicising the addresses of stickered buildings for privacy and security reasons.
The placards are a legal instruction; only authorised officials can place, change, or remove them.
MDC said people with buildings affected by Cyclone Gabrielle can request a rapid assessment by calling the council on 06 370 6300.
It said building owners have a responsibility to ensure their buildings remain structurally sound after a major disaster.
They must also continue to comply with their obligations in relation to health and safety, tenancy and lease agreements, and any other contracts.
MDC said rapid assessments were an initial safety check and building owners should contact their insurers if their building is damaged.
South Wairarapa District Council said it had not been advised of any need for rapid building assessments in its district, and therefore no buildings had been stickered.
It said the damage in the district from Cyclone Gabrielle was limited to land and paddocks, fences and tracks, some outbuildings, and slips.
Carterton District Council said it had not needed to sticker or assess any buildings.
No Wairarapa buildings have been red-stickered, which indicates a building cannot be used and entry is prohibited because it has sustained moderate or heavy damage and poses a significant risk to health or life.
