A car is still lodged in a building on High St, Waimate, almost six months after it ploughed through it. The owner of the building, Ian Melton, says he is awaiting a report from assessors and engineers before he can press ahead with repairs.

It's been almost six months since a car crashed into a Waimate building becoming lodged in the debris, but the owners of the building are still waiting for the matter to be resolved and the car removed.

Ian Melton, who owns the building on High St, said he is awaiting a report from assessors and engineers before he can press ahead with repairs.

The vehicle struck the building in August, causing significant damage to the office block and bathroom facilities in the street front end of the building, after the driver failed to stop at the intersection of High and John streets.

The car has remained there since, buried under a pile of bricks.

Melton, who is semi retired, collects tractors, cars and farming equipment, all of which are stored in the building.

None were damaged, he said.

However, he said the process of getting the matter resolved was frustrating.

"It's bloody ridiculous the way it's turned out but that's the world we live in."

Insurance had agreed to a cash settlement but it was a matter of juggling priorities, he said.

"It's just a matter of getting building permits, insurance is going to give me a cash settlement.

"It's bloody six months now, it's getting beyond a joke."

Melton described it as a "pretty precarious situation".

No physical work had yet been undertaken at the site, he said.

"They are going to fix the building, once they build a fence to hold the building up, they can pull the car out.

"An assessor and an engineer have been in touch and they are working on it.

"We also have a plumber and a builder working on it.

"We have to get a permit sorted out, we have agreed on a price."

Waimate District Council regulatory and compliance group manager Paul Cooper confirmed he was aware of the matter.

"Council has acted quickly and appropriately through the process initiated by the traffic accident.

"A dangerous building notice was issued immediately after the accident occurred and council erected safety fencing to protect the public from the building in case the front of the building collapsed," he said.

"The Waimate District Council building consent authority has subsequently received and processed a building consent application for the remedial work to be undertaken on this building, which can continue along the process once the fee is paid."

Cooper said there were no statutory deadlines for the consent process and "council will continue to work with the building owner".