Future of former hospital site unclear
Twenty-five years after the Government took ownership of New Plymouth’s former Barrett Hospital site, progress to clear the section continues to plod along, with resource consent needed to take the project forward.
The vacant 7.6-hectare property sits in a prime location, within short walking distance to the central city.
The land value, which was last calculated in 2019, is $7 million, but due to a strong demand for sections for housing in particular, the asking price would likely skyrocket north of that figure.
Sold to the New Zealand Government for $1m in 1996, the site has been administered by the Ministry of Justice since 2006 as part of a land bank created to accommodate Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
General oversight of the property, including security, has sat with Toitū Te Whenua/Land Information New Zealand (Linz) since 2016.
Matt Bradley, Linz project and hazard management delivery team manager, said it was waiting on resource consent from the New Plymouth District Council to allow it to remove stockpiles of contaminated material.
When resource consent was granted, demolition would begin regarding the seven non-heritage buildings left on the site.
‘‘Once work gets under way, a range of measures will be taken to minimise any disruption to neighbouring properties,’’ Bradley said.
He said once the stockpiled material was taken away and the non-heritage buildings were removed, Linz would ‘‘continue working closely with Te Kotahitanga o Te
tiawa and our environmental consultants to determine if future work is required at the site’’.
As per its Treaty deal, Te A¯tiawa have first right of refusal to buy the property, but if they decline, there is an option for it be placed on the open market.
Te Kotahitanga o Te tiawa A¯ chairwoman Liana Poutu confirmed there were ongoing discussions with the Crown regarding the potential purchase of the property.
A district council spokesman confirmed the former nurses’ home and the Dawson St gates and brick wall are listed as category A heritage items under its district plan, which meant a resource consent would be required before removal of the structures.
Asbestos and lead contamination of soil and gravel at the site was also previously identified.