Deconstruction of Moturoa Gallery and Moturoa Store (Shed 6)
Project Overview:
The Moturoa Gallery and Moturoa Store (Shed 6) were originally constructed in the early 1980s as part of the Kapuni ammonia-urea plant project, a key initiative in the Muldoon government’s ‘Think Big’ strategy aimed at enhancing New Zealand’s infrastructure and reducing reliance on imports. The plant, located in South Taranaki, utilised natural gas from nearby fields to produce urea, with a significant portion (80%) initially exported.
As the last remaining asbestos-containing structures on the Port, these buildings presented significant environmental and safety challenges. Nikau was contracted to execute a comprehensive deconstruction project, including the safe removal of asbestos and the dismantling of the structures. This project was carried out on an active Port site, amidst the challenging weather conditions typical of New Plymouth.
Contractor Responsibilities:
- Environmental Cleanup: Conducted an extensive Class A asbestos removal within both structures. This involved addressing asbestos dust contamination and substantial accumulations of bird guano.
- Health and Safety Compliance: Operated under strict health and safety protocols required for working on a live Port. Implemented a Permit to Work system with a dedicated permit receiver to ensure all safety measures were adhered to.
- Asbestos Removal: Utilized Nikau-owned cranes to safely remove external asbestos cladding. The use of specialised equipment facilitated efficient and secure access for the removal process.
- Site Management: Managed operations in a high-traffic industrial and public area, including main arterial routes in New Plymouth.
- Waste Management: Coordinated the transportation of all asbestos and contaminated waste to Waikato for proper disposal, as New Plymouth lacks a suitable landfill facility.
- Steel Recycling: Recycled all steel recovered from the deconstruction works, contributing to sustainability efforts.
- Structural Dismantling: Employed cutting and crane techniques for the dismantling of all structures. Designed and manufactured custom lifting devices for the tandem lifting of the Wharf Gallery, accommodating the specific design challenges of the structures.
This project highlights Nikau’s expertise in handling complex deconstruction tasks in active and challenging environments, with a strong emphasis on safety, environmental stewardship, and innovative problem-solving.
