Wellington cordon extended for demolition

A cordon on Wellington’s Tory St has been extended as preparations are made for the destruction of the Reading Cinema parking building.

The area was cordoned off soon after the November 14 magnitude 7.8 earthquake, and will now extend to the intersection with Wakefield St.

A Wellington City Council spokesman said the extra space will allow access for trucks and heavy machinery, including a demolition crane.

The crane was to be moved from 61 Molesworth St on Tuesday, but could not be transported due to heavy winds.

The extension will mean businesses Brendon Motors and Joe’s Garage will remain closed after the Christmas break until the demolition is finished in March.

Brendon Motors manager Lizette Standish said they would continue working at their other branch, but closing that location would hurt financially.

‘‘Definitely our profits have dropped off, but we’re still able to work, so we’ve still been able to do what we needed to do,’’ Standish said.

Hundreds of people have been unable to go home or to work as nearby buildings have been behind the cordon since the Kaikoura quake.

Nine cars are trapped inside the building, and will be destroyed along with it, because it is considered unsafe to retrieve them.

Some insurance companies have told the owners they will not pay out until the building is flattened.

Demolition is scheduled to begin on January 4. - Fairfax NZ