The demolition of Ashburton’s old Polytech buildings will begin with a 12-week asbestos removal.

Contractors will fence off the old building and carpark on Cameron Street on Saturday before specialist asbestos removal and demolition crews move onto the site.

The building will be demolished to turn the site into an unsealed gravel car park for $1.6 million and reopened late December.

Business support group manager Helen Barnes said the asbestos removal from the two-storey Polytech building was the first phase of the building’s demolition.

“We expect that part of the operation to take about 12 weeks and it is being done by a specialist contractor.

“There’s asbestos throughout the old classroom block, but that is typical of buildings of that era. The whole area will be fenced off while this work happens to keep people safely away from the site.”

Local contractor Greg Donaldson Contracting will take over after the asbestos has been removed, and complete demolition of the building.

The whole area will then be levelled and reinstated as a carpark.

Barnes said the project should be finished by Christmas.

“The use of this land was one of the issues we consulted the community about in the long-term plan 2024-34 and funding is included in the budget for this work.

“The end result will be an off-street parking area that can be used 24-7 by people working in or using the CBD.”

Part of the site has been utilised as a free car park, but the entire site will be off limits for around five months.

Alternative free parking is available at other public carparks on Burnett Street (either side of the fire station) and the West Street carpark.

The council has already salvaged items from the old Polytech building, including four freestanding ovens which may be repurposed into council rentals.

Crockery and cutlery has been relocated to the Walnut Avenue pavilion.

The three pre-fab classrooms were also relocated from the Polytech property earlier this year, railway sleepers from the gardens are being re-used in the Ashburton Domain,  and a decorative wrought iron fence has also been removed and will be restored and installed at the domain.