Asbestos found at cathedral site

Asbestos has been discovered in the land fenced off around Christ Church Cathedral, complicating a clean up of the area ahead of Anzac Day.

Despite the contamination members of Christchurch’s Returned and Services Association will still be able to lay wreaths at the citizens’ war memorial tomorrow.

Health chiefs said there was minimal risk to people visiting the area because of the low levels of asbestos found and it not being disturbed. It is not clear if asbestos contaminates the wider cathedral site.

Gavin Holley, general manager of the Church Property Trustees (CPT), which owns the land around the cathedral, said CPT had intended to clean up the area close to the war memorial to allow easier access for RSA members to pay their respects and lay a wreath.

‘‘Unfortunately, recent soil sampling at the cathedral has shown traces of asbestos. The traces appear to be in the hard fill that was delivered to the site in 2012 to cover the paving stones after the earthquakes.

‘‘The hardfill was placed over the stones to protect them from heavy machinery during deconstruction and stabilisation work.’’

The area where wreaths are being laid will now be covered to ensure there is no disturbance to the soil.

But CPT bosses were adamant a cleanup of the area was progressing well.

CPT recovery programme manager Suzanne Price said the find made the wider cleanup of the site ‘‘more complicated’’ than previously thought.

Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods met Anglican church leaders on Friday to call for a cleanup to be carried out ‘‘as soon as possible’’.

In recent days, it has emerged a city council heritage assessment reportedly proposed a move for the memorial from its current location to Latimer Square, despite the RSA’s desire for it to have a home in Cranmer Square.