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Building Act 2004

Building - Safety of dams - Classification of dams

139: Owner must review dam classification

You could also call this:

“ The person who owns the dam must check if the dam's rating is still correct every few years and after making big changes to it. ”

If you own a dam, you need to review its classification regularly. You must do this within 5 years after the regional authority approves the classification. After that, you need to review it at least every 5 years.

You also need to review the dam’s classification if you do any building work on the dam that needs a building consent. This is especially important if the work could change how the dam’s failure might affect people, property, or the environment.

When you review the classification, you need to follow the same rules as when the dam was first classified. These rules are explained in Sections 135 to 138 of this law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM307319.

Topics:
Housing and property > Home safety and repairs
Environment and resources > Conservation
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138: Regional authority must require re-audit of dam classification that it refuses to approve, or

“If the local government doesn't agree with how you've labelled your dam, they will make you get an expert to check it again.”

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140: Requirement for dam safety assurance programme, or

“Dam owners must create and check safety plans for medium and high-risk dams, or face fines.”

Part 2 Building
Safety of dams: Classification of dams

139Owner must review dam classification

  1. An owner of a dam must review the dam's classification—

  2. within 5 years after the regional authority approves, or is deemed to approve, the classification; and
    1. after the first review, at intervals of not more than 5 years.

      1. The owner must also review the dam's classification if, at any time,—

      2. any building work that requires a building consent is carried out on the dam; and
        1. the building work results, or could result, in a change to the potential impact of a failure of the dam on persons, property, or the environment.

          1. Sections 135 to 138 apply, with all necessary modifications, to a classification that is given to a dam following a review under this section.