Gore Campground Buildings Demolished Over Asbestos Risks

Demolition work is under way at the Gore Campground after investigations revealed asbestos and significant contamination in several buildings on the site.

Gore District Council says the work is necessary to address health, safety and regulatory risks associated with the aging structures.

The former house and office, ablution block and other buildings are being removed after assessments found they could not be safely occupied.

Gore District Mayor Ben Bell said the decision followed detailed assessment and was not taken lightly.

"Once we had clear evidence of the condition of the buildings, it became apparent that retaining them was neither safe nor financially responsible," he said.

"The costs required to remediate these structures to a standard suitable for use would have far exceeded their value."

Council considered several options for the buildings, including whether some could be rented, but found the extent of contamination and deterioration made this unviable.

"Public safety has to come first," Mr Bell said. "Some of the buildings were badly contaminated with serious health hazards, and council has an obligation to manage those risks properly."

Local contractors are undertaking the demolition, with specialist contractors involved due to the nature of the contamination. Local builders have also removed appliances that can be salvaged for other council sites.

Council has undertaken additional site works to secure the campground, address compliance issues and meet its obligations following the termination of the lease.

No decisions have been made about the long-term future of the site, but Mr Bell said three options exist at a high level: reinstating the campground, developing it into a general purpose reserve, or using it for a different purpose altogether.

"We can now look forward to discussing, with the community, the best possible use for this site," he said. "Any future options will be openly consulted on, and the community will have the opportunity to be involved before decisions are made."