THE CONTRACTED engineers for the adjacent property to Arch Cot, Brittons Hill, knew there was a danger to the Shalom Apartments, but did not find it necessary to inform the residents or owners.
Gregory Hazard of Mahy Ridley Hazard Engineers limited told the Coroner’s Court investigating the August 26, 2007 collapse of Shalom Apartments, which took the lives of a family of five, they did not feel there was imminent danger to the property.
Noting that all decisions on the project were made collectively, Hazard said their interests were with their project, and while they knew the cave which was discovered on their site and extended under Shalom apartments they did not conduct any inquiries or interview the neighbours.
He said they examined their site and saw no instability or settlement on the adjacent property.
Hazard said inquiries were made below the surface by surveyors at Hart Hutchinson and Fields and while they were “confident” the work was not affecting the apartment they acted responsibly and informed the Chief Town Planner.
He clarified that while there was no imminent danger to the property that had been there for about two decades, the cave could have an impact on future development.
When asked whether he checked to verify that the information was passed on to the Chief Town Planner, Hazard said it was not his responsibility to do so, and that he had a “level of confidence” in his project manager and client to do what they said they would do.
He insisted that neither he nor the onsite engineer from the firm were “reckless” in the discharge of their duties.
The court also heard that on the recommendation of his firm, there was no “wholesale stoppage” of work on the site and that work was shifted about 60 or 70 feet away from where the hole was discovered.
Hazard, who was under cross-examination for more than two hours, said they shifted from the defective area so that the area could be mapped by a surveyor.
He also denied that Dr Jerry Emtage, who was the client, gave an order for the work to be stopped.
Hazard argued that if such an order was given, they would have no choice but to do so.
Insisting that his firm visited the site on a regular basis and took appropriate action on issues highlighted, Hazard said he had no recollection of a report that the ground at the site did not feel solid.
The engineer also maintained that he did not find it necessary to do bore holes, even after the cave was discovered. He said that the reason for bore holes was to find solid ground to build on, and would not have uncovered the cave. He maintained that the site was suitable for what was being built.
On the issue of the water course running through the site, he said he did not consider it a hazard. In addition to the fact that there was not a lot of water running into it, Hazard said they made drainage provisions by designing two suck wells.
The building was reported shifted from the original site in May 2007 and the hole was discovered in July of that same year. A section of the car park was over the hole and Hazard admitted they recommended some “ground improvement” by way of concrete or steel. The car park was adjacent to Arch Cot.
