The budget for the controversial demolition of Hamilton’s Founders Theatre has been extended by almost $1 million after newly discovered asbestos. Hamilton City Council ’s Community and Natural Environment Committee approved the budget extension of $954,000 on Tuesday. This extension includes a contingency for possible further asbestos in the basement and brings the total budget for stage one of the project, which involves complete demolition of the building and returning the site to grass, to $3.
65m. Stage two of the project originally included an extensive development of a community space and multi-purpose park, including space for open-air performances. However, after the new asbestos finds, the council needed to tone down the project with the remainder of the total $4.
1m redevelopment budget, meaning $510,000, now being used to fund a more simple development, prioritising pathways and restoring the Dame Hilda Ross Memorial Fountain. Demolition of the theatre, led by Auckland-based company Yakka Demolition, has been underway since November last year . In a release, the council reiterated it had always been aware of asbestos being present within the theatre building, however, changes to the building over time had hidden the true amount of asbestos present.
“In the last three months, asbestos has been found in four areas that were inaccessible before work began. This includes wrapped around old pipes set in concrete, in wall cavities and in both the stagehouse and audi.