OIR: 2526/336 21 April 2026
David Mills
[FYI request #34182 email] Tēnā koe David,
Request for Information under the Local Government Official Information and
Meetings Act 1987 (the Act) (the LGOIMA)
Thank you for your email of
20 March 2026 regarding the Commercial Vehicle Safety
Centre (CVSC), currently under construction on State Highway 59, Mackay’s
Crossing. You have requested the following information:
1.
Firefighting Water Supply (SNZ PAS 4509:2008)
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre has a heavy vehicle inspection shed
with an approximate floor area of 260m2 and ceiling height of 5.35 meters,
which, at present, does not have a fire suppression sprinkler system. Daily,
the Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre will have heavy vehicles carrying
hazardous goods on-site. Based only on the inspection shed size and
height, applying the Firefighting Water Supply (SNZ PAS 4509:2008) Code, it
dictates a minimum firefighting water supply classification of FW4. This
classification requires specific minimum flow rates and firefighting water
provisions.
Please provide the following information regarding compliance with an
"Acceptable Solution" as mandated by Section 17 of the Building Act 2004:
1a. The Fire Hazard Category (FHC) calculation and any Risk Assessment
conducted under Appendix H of SNZ PAS 4509:2008 used to determine
the water supply requirements.
This standard is no longer referenced in the Building Regulations and was not
considered as part of the building consent assessment for the construction of
the inspection shed. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 17(e) of the Act as the documents alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist, or despite reasonable efforts to locate them, they
cannot be found.
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website, with
your personal details removed.
1b. Documentation showing how the total fire load was calculated.
Specifically, does this calculation account for the "worst-case"
scenario of peak-hour throughput (e.g., up to 11 heavy vehicles,
potentially carrying Class 3 or Class 8 hazardous substances) on-site
simultaneously, or only the physical structure?
Attached is the fire report supplied for the construction of the vehicle
inspection shed. The report’s analysis is based on a single truck being located
within the building at any one time.
1c. Evidence of compliance with SNZ PAS 4509:2008 Table 2 (Method for
determining firefighting water supply, Note 6 - Alternative Supply),
justifying why an alternative or on-site water supply was apparently
deemed unnecessary despite the site’s specific operational risks.
This standard is no longer referenced in the Building Regulations and was not
considered as part of the building consent assessment for the construction of
the inspection shed. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 17(e) of the Act as the documents alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist, or despite reasonable efforts to locate them, they
cannot be found.
1d. The Fire Engineering Report (FER) or Fire Hazard Category (FHC)
assessment (as per SNZ PAS 4509:2008 Appendix H) used to justify
the omission of on-site fire hydrants and/or static water storage.
Officers advised the fire report focuses on the requirements of Acceptable
Solution CAS2.
1e. Any Fire Design Summary provided to the Kapiti Coast District Council
Building Consent Authority that outlines how the "Acceptable
Solution" for fire fighting water is achieved. Please specifically
address compliance with SNZ PAS 4509:2008 Table 1 (Required water
supply for firefighting) and SNZ PAS 4509:2008 Table 2 (Water supply
requirements for fire hazards) given the 960m distance of the 150mm
main from the source.
Refer to attached building consent file.
1f. The results of any physical flow and pressure tests conducted as per
SNZ PAS 4509:2008 Appendix G (Testing of Fire Hydrants) for the
150mm water main at the hydrant located near the site entrance.
This standard is no longer referenced in the Building Regulations and was not
considered as part of the building consent assessment for the construction of
the inspection shed. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 17(e) of the Act as the documents alleged to contain the information
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
requested does not exist, or despite reasonable efforts to locate them, they
cannot be found.
1g. The modelled or tested residual pressure at the single hydrant located
135m from the inspection shed while flowing at the FW4 mandated rate
of 3,000 L/min (50 L/sec), ensuring compliance with the 100 kPa
minimum residual pressure requirement, specified in SNZ PAS
4509:2008 Section 5 (Running (Dynamic) Pressure).
This standard is no longer referenced in the Building Regulations and was not
considered as part of the building consent assessment for the construction of
the inspection shed. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 17(e) of the Act as the documents alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist, or despite reasonable efforts to locate them, they
cannot be found.
1h. Copies of any correspondence between Kapiti Coast District Council
Engineering and NZTA (Waka Kotahi) regarding the 135m maximum
distance requirement between a hydrant and the centre of the main
entry to the structure, as specified in SNZ PAS 4509:2008 Section L4
and illustrated in Figure L2(c).
Please refer to attached emails and correspondence from NZTA.
2. Access and Safety for Firefighting Operations (Building Code Clause C5)
2a. As building work must comply with the New Zealand Building Code
under Section 17 of the Building Act 2004, please provide information
regarding compliance with Clause C5:
The building consent file for the construction of the inspection shed is attached
for your reference.
2b. Any assessment held by the Building Consent Authority verifying that
the site layout provides adequate "Access and Safety for Firefighting
Operations" as required by Performance Requirement C5.2. This would
include the requirement to safeguarding people from an unacceptable
risk of injury or illness caused by fire, including the placement of the
single fire fighting water supply hydrants downwind of the
predominant wind (North/Northwesterly), unacceptably forcing
Firefighters to be exposed to toxic fumes.
The building consent file for the construction of the inspection shed is attached
for your reference.
2c. Please provide the documentation, such as a Fire Engineering Report,
or Building Consent Authority assessment explaining how the site
achieves compliance with Building Code Clause C5.2 and SNZ PAS
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
4509:2008, specifically addressing how firefighting crews can “operate
effectively” at a FW4 classified structure requiring 3,000 L/min, while
relying on a single hydrant located 135 meters away that is capped at a
maximum design flow of 2,100 L/min (SNZ PAS 4509:2008 - Table 2,
Note 5)
This standard is no longer referenced in the Building Regulations and was not
considered as part of the building consent assessment for the construction of
the inspection shed. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 17(e) of the Act as the documents alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist, or despite reasonable efforts to locate them, they
cannot be found.
The building consent file for the construction of the inspection shed is attached
for your reference.
3. Crown Entity Compliance (Building Act Section 7)
NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is the lead agency for this project
and a Crown entity. Please provide:
3a. Evidence of the internal quality assurance or technical certifications
provided by NZTA to Kapiti Coast District Council that satisfies [the
Council] that the project meets the Building Code as per the "Binding
of the Crown" requirements in Section 6 of the Building Act 2004.
The building consent file for the construction of the inspection shed is
attached for your reference.
3b. Any "Letter of Comfort" or equivalent indemnity provided by the Crown
to Kapiti Coast District Council regarding the specific departure from
SNZ PAS 4509:2008 requirements at the Commercial Vehicle Safety
Centre.
This standard is no longer referenced in the Building Regulations and was not
considered as part of the building consent assessment for the construction of
the inspection shed. This part of your request is therefore refused under
section 17(e) of the Act as the documents alleged to contain the information
requested does not exist, or despite reasonable efforts to locate them, they
cannot be found.
The building consent file for the construction of the inspection shed is attached
for your reference.
4. Land Development & Engineering Sign-off
4a. A copy of the completed Land Development Checksheet (or
Engineering Approval Checksheet) for this project, specifically the
sections pertaining to fire fighting, water supply, and
Stormwater/Discharge.
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
Attached is the resource consent file from Greater Wellington Regional
Council. The building consent file for the construction of the inspection shed
is attached for your reference.
4b. Any Engineering Design Approval (EDA) documents issued by Kapiti
Coast District Council for the site’s infrastructure, and the name of the
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) who certified that the
firefighting water supply meets the Kapiti Coast District Council Land
Development Minimum Requirements (LDMR) in accordance with SNZ
PAS 4509:2008 requirements in Section 4.3 (Method for Determination
of Fire Fighting Water Supply).
Attached is the resource consent file from Greater Wellington Regional
Council.
5. Environmental & RMA Compliance (Section 15)
The site is situated in close proximity to the Paekākāriki community
drinking water bores. Please provide:
5a. The Resource Consent or Permitted Activity status documents for the
discharge of stormwater/run-off from the Commercial Vehicle Safety
Centre hardstand into the western soak pits/holding ponds.
Attached is the resource consent file from Greater Wellington Regional
Council.
5b. Any Environmental Impact Assessments or technical reports held by
Council addressing the risk of toxic firefighting run-off (resulting from
a hazardous goods fire at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre)
entering the aquifer via these apparently uncontrolled soak holes.
Attached is the resource consent file from Greater Wellington Regional
Council.
6. Hazardous Substances Containment
6a. The Engineering Approval or Building Consent documentation that
verifies the site’s drainage system meets the requirements for
secondary containment of hazardous substances (110% volume rule)
based on NZTA latest truck volume estimates (11 truck between 8-9am,
7 trucks between 5-6pm daily), as per the Health and Safety at Work
(Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017.
Attached is the resource consent file from Greater Wellington Regional
Council.
6b. Given the site's proximity to the local aquifer, please provide the
“Producer Statement” or “Compliance Certificate” that confirms the
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
secondary containment system meets all the specific regulations
relating to the hazardous materials expected at the Commercial Vehicle
Safety Centre, and containing a spill effectively.
Attached is the resource consent file from Greater Wellington Regional
Council.
7. Administrative Details
7a. If the Council has transferred any of these responsibilities to a third
party (e.g., Greater Wellington Regional Council or Taumata Arowai),
please specify which parts of this request have been transferred and to
whom.
Council did not transfer any of its responsibilities to a third party.
If you have any further questions, you may contact Steve Cody Acting Consenting
manager: [email address] You have the right to request the Ombudsman to review this decision. Complaints can
be sent by email
to [email address], or by post to The Ombudsman,
PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.
Ngā mihi,
Darren Edwards
Chief Executive
Te Tumuaki
Please note that any information provided in response to your request may be published on the Council website,
with your personal details removed.
