Traffic disruption to Port Rd will be minimal, with trucks only turning left and barriers used to keep the public safe. Photo/Tania Whyte
Traffic disruption to Port Rd will be minimal, with trucks only turning left and barriers used to keep the public safe. Photo/Tania Whyte
It's time for new growth on an old Whangarei fertiliser storage site.
Whangarei District Council is planning to redevelop the old Ballance fertiliser site on Port Rd but it is yet to decide exactly what kind of development will take its place.
Contractors will begin dismantling the building and clearingthe site from late January.
Council property manager Mike Hilbert said the former fertiliser storage facility contains a lot of asbestos.
"Removing it was always going to require very careful, well-planned, well-executed work, so we have been planning that for some time."
He said a class A asbestos removal contractor has been signed on for the work.
Work to demolish the old Ballance fertiliser site on Port Rd will start in late January. Photo/Tania Whyte
The job will include removing all the asbestos cladding and asbestos containing material, demolition of the site buildings down to the concrete slab and a site tidy-up.
"The building's asbestos sheeting will be coated with a PVA/water mixture, to enclose fibres, before being wrapped in plastic and trucked to Puwera Landfill for disposal."
Mr Hibbert said all work would be performed in accordance with the legislation.
He said the council was now satisfied the site could be cleared in a way that ensured the safety of the public.
The $700,000 contract has been let to demolition specialists Ceres New Zealand.
Mr Hibbert said disruption to traffic on Port Rd will be minimal, with trucks making left turns only and barriers used to keep the public safe.
Asbestos air monitoring will be carried out at several locations around the site boundary and all works will be monitored by a licensed asbestos assessor.
"To protect the environment, all runoff will be captured or treated to prevent sediment or asbestos entering the harbour. Dust will be controlled with water misting as required and plastic drop sheets will be laid below work areas to prevent asbestos entering soils."
Following demolition, an environmental site assessment will investigate soil and groundwater conditions beneath the site and identify whether any remediation works are required.
