Unsafe classroom block cleared from Opihi site

Opihi College’s asbestos-riddled H Block is no more.

The last of the dangerous substance was taken from the concrete flooring on Tuesday in a removal project that began on December 17 – five years after the building was condemned for its age and leakiness, and two years after the discovery of the toxic black mould stachybotrys turned the situation urgent.

H Block’s top floor had been closed in 2016 and its ground floor at the end of 2017, but two classrooms were recommissioned in 2018 when the demolition date was pushed to February 25, 2019. No part of the building was in use at the start of this year.

Classroom space had been ‘‘fairly tight’’ this term as a result, principal Tina Johnson said.

The library and spaces typically reserved for students wanting to work independently, or in groups, had been converted to classrooms to ease the strain, Johnson said.

‘‘We’re using virtually every space at all times.’’

Four relocatable classrooms would be ready for use by the beginning of next term, or April 30.

‘‘It will make a huge difference.

‘‘We’ve managed but this will just give us that little bit of wiggle room.’’

Staff and students had been ‘‘amazing’’ dealing with the noise from tearing down the building, she said.

‘‘Everyone’s been very, very accepting because they know in the long run it’s going to have a positive outcome.’’

The ‘‘ground works’’ of the replacement blocks were expected to start mid-December – ‘‘all going well’’, she said.

The new building would introduce a 10-classroom unit and a two-classroom science block to the school.

‘‘A design has been approved at the top level so now we can start breaking down the finer details.

‘‘It’s taken a long time to get to this point but we are there.’’