Woods MeganCHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL REINSTATEMENT BILLIn CommitteeDebate resumed from 19 December.Parts 1 and 2 schedules 1 to 3 and clauses 1 and 2 (continued)Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration): Thank you very much Madam Chairperson Williams. As we were interrupted last night I was addressing the very sensible question that Dr Smith had put to the committee and put to me as Minister in the chair around the intentions in respect of the Building Act and exemptions that are provided for under this legislation. Well as we know the reinstatement of the cathedral is a complex engineering task and the design will be undertaken in stages over many years. At this stage there's not enough information to assess the kind of Building Act exemptions that would be required. This will be a task for the joint venture—that is between the Church Property Trustees and the independent trust that will manage the project. The joint venture will provide the necessary detail to the responsible Minister to advise if any exemptions to the Building Act are required as engineering and design work becomes more developed. What I can confirm to that member at this stage is that the Church Property Trustees have received advice that under the building code the tower will require the addition of a lift and secondary stairwell. That will increase the scale of the tower by 50 percent and it has significant implications for the design of the whole base isolation system. Addressing this problem may require the use of an Order in Council provision seeking exemption from the Building Act. However detailed information from the proponent which will be required under clause 8(4) would be needed to justify and support such an order and then the robust checks and balances of the legislation would come into play. For example there would be the role of the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Review Panel to use their expert skills to analyse the Order in Council the role of the Regulations Review Committee to also examine that Order in Council and the Minister consulting the Minister responsible for the administration of the Building Act subject to the Order in Council. There would also of course be engagement with local authorities other appropriate people and the general public. Related to that question the Hon Nick Smith asked me whether or not there was a benchmark of new code or expectations for the new building standard that I would want the strengthened Christ Church Cathedral to have and would I give an assurance that this wouldn't be a standard less than the Building Act required. I'd like to reassure that member that I appreciate the need for safety. I think that as we're rebuilding a building in Christchurch that has to be appreciated and again this will be a matter for the joint venture as it undertakes the detailed design and engineering work. But I would expect the joint venture to recognise the importance of the Cathedral Working Group report and that report recommended a solution that included seismic strengthening and base isolation that achieves An Importance Level 3 Design in accordance with New Zealand Standard for Structural Design; 100 percent of the current building code for seismic performance; Improved life safety and contents protection; Minimal damage to heritage features/fabric; Minimal visual impact and intrusion; and Improved usability." So they are all good considerations to have and I would expect that the Cathedral Working Group report will inform the joint venture's final design of the building. However ultimately that is a decision for the joint venture to make. Thank you."