Auckland Council contractors moving into Civic building

A council spokeswoman said it continued to monitor the Civic Administration Building, as it has done for several years. Photo / Richard Robinson

Auckland Council is moving 50 contractors into the Civic Administration Building, which in its owns words "has been plagued by asbestos issues over a number of decades".

A council spokeswoman said it continued to monitor the building, as it has done for several years.

"We air test the environment for any risk of asbestos and we are absolutely confident that all staff and visitors to the building are working in a safe environment," the spokeswoman said.

The council vacated about 450 staff from the Civic Administration Buildling in Aotea Square earlier this year for the ex-ASB Tower on Albert St.

The spokeswoman said: "While Albert Street was purchased to address the council's accommodation requirements in the CBD and to provide savings to ratepayers, it has taken the opportunity to use the CAB to house some temporary functions and staff who are decanting from other council buildings.

"This short term measure has saved money as we don't have to lease or rent space for these temporary moves."

The spokeswoman said the staff were IT contractors.

"It is uncertain how long they will be housed in the CAB. Councillors will decide on the future use of the building, at which point in time we will consider other options for housing these temporary staff, if necessary," she said.

A paper presented to the Auckland Development committee last month on development options at Aotea Square said the Civic Administration Building "has been plagued by asbestos issues over a number of decades".

The council is planning to sell the Civic Administration Building. Its development arm has called for developers to lodge expressions of interests for the building, which was the seat of Auckland City Council for almost 50 years.

A council document for prospective developers said asbestos removal could cost up to $12 million and some seismic work was needed.