One of Hawke’s Bay’s more complex demolition jobs is under way, with a significant change to the Napier hill’s skyline of Mataruahou expected to be complete by the end of the year.
The Hinepare Nurses’ Home on Napier Tce is four storeys high as well as a basement, is made mainly of concrete and is in the middle of a residential zone, where some houses sell for over $1 million.
Plans for the project were revealed on the site today by Land Information New Zealand (Linz) project manager Matt Bradley, who said the Government agency appreciates there’s a lot of interest in the end of the 70-year-old building. The hostel was a victim of the closure of the nearby Napier Hospital more than 25 years ago and was finally retired when a failed earthquake risk assessment put an end to its use for seasonal worker and other rented-room accommodation in 2012.
Discussions had taken place with the local community during the demolition planning, and one was being held at the Tabard Theatre in Ahuriri on Tuesday night, while newsletters are planned to keep the community up-to-date as the demolition takes place, and mysteries and treasures are uncovered.
To minimise issues that can arise with such projects, special and small-scale techniques will be used on parts of the building to remove the risk of debris falling onto neighbouring property - thus there won’t be any wrecking ball, just a long-reach excavator once the risks to adjacent property are removed.
