A removal plan, timetable and potential costs are not likely to be available until next week.
Months of disruption appear to be ahead, given the size of the Fryatt St warehouse roof and requirement to safely contain any further asbestos spread when removing the 50 to 60-year-old Super Six brand panels.
A fortnight ago, Port Otago shut down one side of Fryatt St, after receiving a report the cement panels were shedding asbestos fibres during rainfall, from the shed's roof on to the road below.
The warehouse's sole tenant is to be moved, wharfside boat owners face access restrictions and public parking beside the warehouse has been stopped.
Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said, when contacted yesterday, he expected a contractor's removal and management plan would be delivered by next week.
``It will be slow and cumbersome work, especially given the safety aspect [of protecting workers] ... yes, a few months,'' he said.
In the shorter term, the focus was on moving the small recycling business from the warehouse, which should be ready to go next week, and on cleaning other materials or equipment stored within the warehouse, Mr Winders said.
Asked about compensation for disruption to the recycling business, Mr Winders said costs of cleaning and decontamination, the actual move and no rent charges would be borne by Port Otago.
He said other month-by-month tenants and long-term storage tenants were involved, and their equipment would also have to be cleaned and decontaminated.
