2 December 2016

Building purchased for Porirua Emergency Operations Centre

Porirua City Council successfully purchased 2b Raiha Street for $1.5 million at auction yesterday to house the city’s Porirua Emergency Operations Centre.

The Council had approved expenditure up to $1.5 million for the purchase at its first meeting on Wednesday 30 November.

Mayor Mike Tana says now that the Council has a resilient base, the public can have confidence that the city will be able to respond no matter what the event.

“The recent earthquake and storms have highlighted how crucial it is to have a building fit for purpose - this building provides an ideal permanent home for the city’s emergency operations centre.”

Previously the Council operated from a building in Serlby Place but that area is low-lying and would be vulnerable in a tsunami.

Chief Executive Wendy Walker says the Council has a statutory obligation under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 to maintain, staff and operate an emergency operations centre capable of responding to major emergency events.

“The land it stands on has low risk of natural hazards such as liquefaction, ground shaking, flooding and tsunami and the site has been fully endorsed by the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office. As well as serving our emergency operations requirements during and post an event, there’s room for other Council requirements and activities.”

The former Jetco building at 2b Raiha Street is a modern industrial 551sqm warehouse with an extra 300sqm office and 1800 sqm yard.

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