A lack of preparation and other failings contributed to a balcony collapse that injured party-goers during a concert at a Dunedin student flat, an investigation has found.
The scene of the balcony collapse off Castle Street in Dunedin on 4 March, 2016. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
18 people were injured when the overloaded balcony collapsed in March 2016, 10 minutes into a free Six60 concert outside student flats.
A 19-year-old woman suffered severe spinal injuries, one man fractured both his legs, and others were left with neck and head injuries.
The Dunedin band had made a tradition of playing a free surprise gig outside 660 Castle Street, the flat where the band formed in 2008.
However, after they were unable to use that flat, the concert was moved to a shared courtyard down the road at 598 Castle Street.
An Otago University report into the event found it was organised by the property manager alongside the band.
"If the balcony at 598 Castle Street had not collapsed, the Six60 gig might have passed into memory as a largely spontaneous and agreeable interlude in student life on Castle Street," the report said.
"The fact that the balcony collapsed, however, with tragic consequences for one student in particular who sustained spinal injuries, changed all that."
[A government report last year http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/301409/balconies-to-be-tested-after-dunedin-collapse ] found there was no problem with the balcony's construction, saying it had collapsed as it was not designed to hold the number of people on it.
Around 1500 attended the show, with one resident reporting an extra 50 people in his flat at one stage, only eight of whom he knew by sight.
The university's report has outlined a number of failings which lead to the overcrowding.
"The property manager made limited arrangements for security and crowd safety, had no face-to-face meetings with the police or the proctor, and relied on ineffective verbal instructions given to tenants to limit numbers on balconies," it said.
It found the large crowd could have been anticipated in advance, as could the fact that people would try climb on roofs and balconies - particularly given the previous year's was marred by a head injury after one man fell trying to climb onto a roof.
"In summary, neither the event organiser, the property owners, nor the student residents had any realistic appreciation of what might happen if up to 1500 students gathered for a free gig on a Friday evening early in the first semester," the report found.
The student residents assumed the organisers knew what they were doing and were looking forward to an exciting Friday evening, it said.
The report found the university's proctor and police were only told of the gig two days beforehand.
"As a consequence of the failure to consult, although the property manager and others were concerned about the balconies, the police arrived on the scene unaware of the risk that the balconies posed, and were required to assess the risk and take action under the pressure of a developing situation," the report concluded.
If there had been consultation with the authorities before the event it may have led to "a more realistic assessment of the difficulty of controlling the crow and the risks associated with the balconies".
While residents of the surrounding flats were told by the property manager beforehand to limit balconies to eight people, the report concluded this was only verbal, unrealistic, and there were no warning signs put up to tell others.
Despite the best efforts of police, as soon as balconies were cleared they became overcrowded again, the report said.
One person was arrested for obstructing police as a result.
While tenants had been told two security guards would be there, there was only one guard present.
"This was inadequate given the size of the crowd, and the fact that, except in exceptional circumstances, the police and Campus Watch have only limited rights to act on private property," the report said.
The report did add that all additional preparations would incur costs and being a free gig without sponsorship, it did not raise any money.
"Selling tickets or alcohol at an event raises revenue that can be used to pay for security and other safety measures, but as a consequence, the organiser incurs legal obligations, one of which is to ensure safety standards are met.
"By not selling tickets, organisers avoid such responsibilities."
University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said the university would be redoubling its effort to built trust with anyone planning events at student flats.
