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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2013 9:53:09 GMT 10
$60m to blast-proof US embassy complexBy HANK SCHOUTEN - The Dominion Post | 5:00AM - Saturday, 02 March 2013UNITED STATES EMBASSY staff are to be protected behind blast walls built as part of a major upgrade of the Wellington complex, costing up to $60 million.
The walls, designed to protect against missiles and bomb blasts, will further beef up security at what is already one of the most heavily protected diplomatic posts in New Zealand.
Just eight years ago, heavy concrete and steel fences were built around the Thorndon compound and pop-up steel barriers were installed at its vehicle entrances.
The blast walls are apparently not a response to an increased threat of terrorism.
Embassy spokesman David Edginton said the upgrade work followed a seismic-risk assessment.
Whenever work was being done at an embassy, the State Department required it be brought up to worldwide standards for safety and security.
A contract for the project, estimated to cost US$36m to US$50m (NZ$43 to NZ$60m), was expected to be awarded this year.
"This comprehensive project includes retrofitting the exterior of the chancery building facade to meet US Department of State's standards for seismic and blast protection, and general building systems upgrades."
The State Department's bureau of overseas building operations is looking for suitable contractors.
"Planning for this upgrade started after the Christchurch earthquake, and was based in part on information shared by the Wellington City Council about seismic threats to the city."
Mr Edginton was not able to say what the seismic status of the embassy was. However, the compound, beside the Murphy Street motorway offramp, is close to the Wellington fault line.www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/8371842/60m-to-blast-proof-US-embassy-complex
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Post by caskur on Mar 2, 2013 10:54:56 GMT 10
60 million is a lot though...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2013 11:04:54 GMT 10
Do you know that there is no parallel parking along Murphy Street in Wellington on the side of the street fronted by the American Embassy?
There used to be parallel parking on both sides of the street, but the Americans put a huge amount of pressure on Wellington City Council to close those parking spaces and put HUGE concrete blocks in each of them, and the council rolled over and did what the Americans wanted.
Parking is extremely scarce in downtown Wellington, so the council should have told the Americans to "get fucked" instead of making life even harder for Wellington citizens who are trying to find parking near their place of work, just because the Americans wanted it due to their paranoia.
You don't see any of the other embassies in Wellington DEMANDING that there be no parking on the road adjacent to their premises.
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Post by caskur on Mar 2, 2013 11:27:28 GMT 10
well, the US embassy complex isn't technically NZ... it's actually America....
however... 60 million seems very steep a foot to bill.
I hope most of it is going to the local economy.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2013 11:43:57 GMT 10
So you think it would be wise to allow vans stuffed full with ammonium nitrate to just roll up and parallel park there? Well....the Aussie and UK and French and German and Chinese and Russian and Dutch and Belgium and Italian and Spanish and Canadian and....so-on diplomatic missions in Wellington don't see the need to indulge in paranoia while shitting on Wellingtonians trying to find a parking space for their car.
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Post by caskur on Mar 2, 2013 11:49:34 GMT 10
Then perhaps you need some public parking space complexes built....
parking in cities is a real problem these days... public transport here has always been substandard.
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Post by caskur on Mar 2, 2013 12:40:05 GMT 10
the USA are idiots... they are paranoid and always were...it's a residual they developed from the days of scalpings!
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Post by caskur on Mar 2, 2013 13:05:24 GMT 10
yeah true...
have you seen lolokaust.com?
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Post by caskur on Mar 2, 2013 13:09:32 GMT 10
I sent you a pm... so check it out.
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