Barrett St laid bare
The future of a multi-million dollar piece of prime Taranaki real estate remains uncertain as work to clear the site continues.
The demolition of New Plymouth’s former Barrett St Hospital began in 2016 with the removal of asbestos from its old buildings.
While the clearance is almost complete, more needs to be done before the future of the 7.62 hectare site, which was last year valued at $5.3 million, can be decided.
The land was sold to the Government in 1996 for $1 million and had been administered by the Ministry of Justice since 2006 as part of the Office of Treaty Settlements landbank. It is now being looked after by Land Information New Zealand (Linz).
Te Atiawa has the first right of refusal on the land, an old pa site, once it is cleared.
Jerome Sheppard, Linz deputy chief executive crown property, said the demolition work was expected to be finished by the end of the month.
‘‘Further works are likely required as Land Information New Zealand works through the process of readying the land for recycling, but there is no timeframe as yet for completion of future works,’’ Sheppard said.
‘‘The historic uses of the site and the various management practices over the hospital’s history have added a layer of complication to the demolition works.’’
The demolition would be followed by land treatment and other work as required, Sheppard said.
The old nurses home, as well as some associated structures and some infrastructure, such as roads and retaining walls, are not included in this work.
The former Nurses’ Home, the Dawson St gates and the brick wall were all marked as Category A Heritage Items within the New Plymouth District Council’s District Plan, which would protect the structures from demolition.
He would not comment on whether Te Atiawa would buy the site or what options would be considered if the iwi didn’t.
‘‘The hospital site is part of the Linz Treaty Settlements Landbank, and is subject to a two year deferred selection with Te Atiawa (Taranaki) Iwi as part of their 2016 Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown.
‘‘It is for the iwi to consider whether or not to purchase the site as part of the deferred selection process and Linz is unable to comment on this.’’
Sheppard wouldn’t comment on the cost of the work to date as it was commercially sensitive.
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa chairwoman Liana Poutu said it was too early to say whether the iwi would take up the option.
Poutu said the iwi had two years from its deed of settlement date, February 23, 2017, to decide.
‘‘It is for the iwi to consider whether or not to purchase the site.’’ Jerome Sheppard, Linz