The government is examining seismic risks in schools, starting in Wellington

Prefabricated classrooms at Wellington Girls’ College are in use because of their old and earthquake-prone buildings. Picture: RNZ/Samuel Rylston

A major government project has begun to improve understanding of earthquake risk in schools, starting in the Wellington region.

Seismic risk assessments of buildings generally undergo regular shifts in terms of what is required, key in particular being research into the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake and, more recently, government policy aimed at mitigating costs for seismic strengthening business owners.

A Treasury report indicated that the Cabinet approved two tranches of new school seismic projects in December, each worth more than $100 million and each in the detailed business study stage.

The Department for Education confirmed to RNZ that it is “conducting preliminary work to better understand earthquake risks across parts of the school’s property portfolio”.

Jerome Sheppard, chief executive of the school estate, said: “This work is focused on improving information and informing future options, and is being considered in phases.”

The two tranches were on a list of 23 major projects from roads to hospital wings to defense housing that totaled more than $25 billion in spending expected over the next four years.

Both are classified as medium to high risk investments.

“We are looking first at Greater Wellington, where seismic risks are generally better understood, and where assessment and planning work is more advanced,” Sheppard said.

Many Wellington schools, such as Wellington Girls and Onslow College, have gone through years of anxiety and turmoil for students over seismic assessments and development projects.

“This work is at an early stage,” Sheppard said. “Wellington schools continue to operate as usual and are aware of the seismic status of their buildings.

“Any future decisions on next steps will be subject to Cabinet consideration.”

Five months ago, the government introduced a new “risk-based” approach to earthquake enforcement to replace rules introduced after 2016, which it said would save building owners across the country more than $8.2 billion.

In 2022, the Building Research Association and the Ministry conducted structural seismic capacity tests for buildings commonly used in schools nationwide. This showed that “buildings are inherently flexible.”

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