Changes proposed for dam safety management

Amendments to the Dam Safety Scheme have been included in Building Amendment Bill (No 4), which was introduced in Parliament today.

“We have amended plans for the Scheme, because it was overly costly and complex,” Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says.

“The Dam Safety Scheme, as it was set out in the Building Act 2004, would have affected an estimated 1,150 dams, but an independent review found the scheme was too broad, imposing rules and compliance costs out of proportion to the risk,” Mr Williamson says.

The proposed changes mean classified dams will have to be regularly monitored, and any associated risks to people and property from their failure, minimised.

“The amended Scheme will be more effective, because it will clearly target only those dams that pose a high risk. It will be more efficient because it will provide for adequate safety measures without unnecessary compliance costs,” Mr Williamson says.

The Dam Safety Scheme can be viewed in Building Amendment Bill (No 4) at www.legislation.govt.nz