Photo: ODT filesThe cost of making Invercargill's iconic water tower earthquake safe could be as high as $1.3 million, a report by the city's water manager reveals. If the city opts for the latter option, then it would cost $1,311,000 and if it chooses the former, this would cost $775,000. The tower was closed in the wake of the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake and concerns over public injury should an quake hit Southland. Any plans of strengthening it were put on hold until the Building Act was amended in 2017, making it clear what the minimum earthquake strengthening requirement were for buildings. Mr Murray's report states that if the city opts for the 67% option, it could look at possibly operating the tower as a tourist site.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 04, 2019 05:15 UTC