The Whakatāne District Council's Projects and Services Committee has recommended that the deteriorating, asbestos-containing cladding on the Eastern Cargo Shed at the Port Ōhope wharf be replaced with Colour Steel.

The building has been sealed-off for several months, after asbestos fibre was found in dust samples taken inside the structure. Further testing also confirmed a low level of asbestos fibre in the soil immediately around the building and the contaminated soil has since been removed.

At last week's Committee meeting, Councillors considered three options for the cargo shed's future, two of which - demolition (at an estimated cost of $115,000) and recladding with Colour Steel ($165,000) - involved removing the existing, asbestos-based cladding and foil roof lining. A third option involved sealing all asbestos-containing internal and external surfaces with paint, rubber and foam compounds, at an estimated cost of $165,000 to $218,000, depending on the products used. 

Reporting to committee, Properties and Facilities Team Leader Beau Fraser said inclusion of the building on the Asbestos Management Plan and Register as a category B risk fulfilled part of the Council's legal obligations. However, it was considered "prudent to remove asbestos from the structure".

Several committee members expressed concern about investing in the building without any clear, long-term purpose defined for its use. However, others felt that the cargo shed had the potential to be a useful asset for the community and a resolution recommending that the Council approve the recladding was passed by a 5:3 majority, together with an additional recommendation that Council staff seek expressions of interest from potential future tenants.

Council Community Services General Manager Mike Naude said the building was currently subject to a lease arrangement (as a storage facility) expiring in April 2020. "Council elected members are keen to see the building used for appropriate commercial activities which will contribute to community enjoyment of the area," he explained. "The Port Ōhope Concept Plan also envisioned that the cargo shed would be retained for its unique architectural features, as part of the port landscape."

Constructed in the late-1950s, the eastern cargo shed served as a storage facility for the port during the coastal trade era, which came to an end in the late-1960s. It has since been leased to a number of tenants, largely for use as a storage facility.

The Committee's recommendation will be considered by the Council at its next meeting on 31 October.