The BL Family Trust own the 59,801 sq m section of land on Garlands Rd and is in the process of clearing more than 70 per cent of the earthquake-damaged, asbestos-filled buildings.
Skellerup, which makes rubber goods, moved out in 2016 to a new $60 million premises in Wigram. It sold the Woolston site ‘as is where is’.
BL Family Trust representative Vipan Garg said the demolition is taking place in order to clean up the “eyesore” which is derelict and attracting vandals.
“It was a problem within the community. People were getting into the buildings, as they were left unattended.”
National Steel, the main site occupant, processes and sorts metal on the empty land and will continue to use one building as a “hub” which has been deemed safe by an engineer.
Fair Auto Dismantlers, Lowe Industries and NZ Besthome Furniture also occupy the shed-like buildings on the site, which have been assessed as safe.
The BL Family Trust has applied for a proposed boundary adjustment to three main lots on the site and wants it to be processed by the city council.
However, demolition project manager Jarrad Smith said there are no plans to sell or develop the area at this stage.
He said the purpose of the boundary adjustment is to square off the land into three clear parcels.
“Potentially, at some point, something will happen with the site. What that is and when that is hasn’t been determined. There is still a year or so of work to be done,” Mr Smith said.
The demolition may take up to a year and the remaining materials will be dumped at the Kate Valley landfill.
