Demolition begins at Queensgate mall

  • 05/12/2016
Hutt City Council has instructed Queensgate mall to carry out the demolition "with urgency" (Newshub.)
Hutt City Council has instructed Queensgate mall to carry out the demolition "with urgency" (Newshub.)

The partial demolition of Queensgate Shopping Centre is set to begin on Monday morning.

The northeastern end of the Lower Hutt mall was damaged beyond repair in the magnitude 7.8 Kaikoura earthquake on November 14.

The demolition area, which is structurally separate to the rest of the building, includes a section of carpark and the movie theatre.

Diggers and cranes will be used to bring the building down in stages. It is estimated it will take just over two months to complete.

Hutt City Council chief executive Tony Stallinger says he is aware of the disruption it will cause.

"We know there will be dust and noise in the area while this work happens but it is necessary to get the job done as quickly as possible, and we ask neighbours to please be patient.

"The demolition team will work as quickly as possible without compromising their safety or the safety of others."

A number of other businesses have been closed since November 24 because of their proximity to the shopping centre.

The New World supermarket is likely to reopen before Christmas however parts of the Angus Inn hotel are expected to remain closed until February.

However, more than 80 shops within the structurally sound area of the mall have been able to reopen just in time for Christmas shopping.

Newshub.