Port Waikato’s Old Library on Philips Reserve has definitely seen better days and the building has been abandoned for several years due to its deteriorating condition.
Repairing the building is not financially viable, so Council is planning to demolish it. The library sits on a concrete slab which has no footings and is being undermined by rabbits. The current structure would not comply with national building standards and has a lot of asbestos under the timber cladding.
Temporary fencing has been installed around the building to keep the site safe while Council finalises the demolition.
A licensed asbestos remover will be removing the building as soon as possible and checks will be done to certify that the site is asbestos free when the work is complete.
If it was later established that a building in this location would be needed in the future, a new build would be more financially viable than trying to fix the existing structure.
