Demo begins for Probett Building
Part of an Auckland building severely damaged by flood waters has been demolished.
The Probett Building in New Lynn was issued a dangerous building notice after it was hit by flash flooding on March 12, which caused the footpath by it to collapse and cracking in the building.
Auckland Council hired Ward Demolition to carry out demolition work after taking over the job from the owners of the building which was situated on Great North Rd.
One crane, a digger and at least four demolition vehicles were seen operating on the site on March 24.
Pedestrians were asked not to use the side of the road where construction was being carried out.
On March 24 the back of the western side of the structure had been demolished while the facade was still intact.
An overland flow path into the Clark St culvert caused the footpath collapse and the scouring around the Probett Building, council said.
Barry Potter, Auckland Council’s director of infrastructure and environmental services, said on March 23 work was going to be round-the-clock and Great North Rd may need to be closed at short notice.
He said traffic management decisions depended on the ‘‘situation on the ground’’ and the weather.
Potter said council would try to avoid service disruption as much as possible - this included power supply and the fibre optic infrastructure.
Potter said he understood workers were securing services such as power and fibre optic on March 23 and partial demolition would be completed before the end of March 26.
Noise was expected during the 24-hour-job, he said.
Auckland Council had said it was working with the owner of the 48-year-old structure to begin partial demolition on March 20.
On March 22 workers could be seen clearing trees from the Clark St culvert located at the back of the Probett Building.
Club Fiafia, Happy Japanese Restaurant and Sake, Bula Barber & Hair and Delicious Cake and Pastry were housed in the Probett Building, which had been found to contain asbestos.
Paul Gillett of Precision Print located next to the Probett Building said his internet had stopped working and it did not seem like it would come back any time soon.