Maritime Union leaves home of 73 years

THE Maritime Union has been evicted from its Port Chalmers offices as Port Otago prepares to demolish the 1946 building.

The union has had offices at 73yearold brick Waterfront Industry Commission since the building’s creation and fought the port over plans for its demolition.

Port Otago says the asbestoscontaminated building is unsafe and preliminary work for its clearance will begin on Friday.

Maritime Union of New Zealand Port Chalmers branch secretary Phil Adams said yesterday the port issued an eviction notice to members last week and they had until Friday to vacate.

‘‘It’s the end, but it’s extremely disappointing. There’s still a lot of ill feeling around the town about what’s going to happen to the place.’’

The advice he received was it would be too costly to fight the demolition, he said.

The building was constructed in 1946 to provide facilities for waterfront workers as they waited for casual work each day.

It was not a registered heritage building.

Mr Adams did not think Port Otago gave proper consideration to keeping the building.

At an Otago Regional Council meeting last month chairman Stephen Woodhead declined the union’s plea to make its case at a public forum, citing ‘‘legal processes’’.

‘‘The ORC were abysmal, except for Michael Laws and Bryan Scott.’’

The port was ‘‘set on a path’’ for the building’s demolition, he said.

‘‘I think they’ll try to get it off the face of the earth quickly so people will forget, but we won’t forget.’’

The union was considering its options for new premises, but had an offer from Port Otago.

Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders rejected the idea it had not properly consulted the union, saying the company had discussed asbestos mitigation plans with all affected parties since early 2017.

‘‘We’ve been working through all the affected community groups, supporting those groups getting out of an unsafe building, and I think we’ve been doing a great job.’’

He understood it was a difficult issue for the union to leave the building.

‘‘We had to get a notice for them to vacate a building which they’ve had free occupation of for some time.’’

A process would being on Friday to ‘‘wrap’’ and scaffold the building to get it ready for asbestos removal.

Full demolition would take about two months, he said.

PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN Hall of memories . . . Maritime Union of New Zealand secretary Phil Adams packs sentimental items as he is evicted from his Port Chalmers office, including a photograph taken at the port in the 1950s, showing his grandfather Harry Adams and fatherinlaw Walter Meehan.