UPDATE 10:09am: A Dunedin City Councillor believes a lot of headaches could be saved if earthquake strengthening could be prioritised and staggered.

A number of southern councils have banded together to outline their concerns over the Earthquake-prone Buildings Amendment Bill.

They want to see more flexibility around how long owners have to get their buildings up to standard and for the assessments to take into account the potential risks for the buildings around the country.

One point of contention has been councils wanting to focus on facades and parapets, before moving into the extensive strengthening work.

Councillor, David Benson-Pope, says breaking down the work needed will be a good way to spread out the costs.

"And if we allow people the flexibility to do that without the expense of having to do an entire building that may be a really good way ahead."

However, the parents of a Christchurch man killed in the February 2011 earthquake, want the government to change its Earthquake Prone Buildings Amendment Bill.

A parliamentary select committee has met face to face with a number of submitters.

The bill requires that buildings are strengthened to at least 34 percent of the new building standard.

Rod and Rebecca Thompson told MPs that could be done in a faster time-frame than what's proposed.

"We'd like to see it at 7 years as recommended by the commission.

"We think 15 years is too long."

Rod and Rebecca Thompson lost their son, Isaac, when the CTV building collapsed.