28 Jan 2016

Millions to re-bury asbestos at QEII

2:52 pm on 28 January 2016

The Christchurch City Council will spend up to $3.8 million to seal and re-bury thousands of tonnes of asbestos found underneath QEII Park.

An aerial view of QEII park after the February and June 2011 earthquakes.

An aerial view of QEII park after the February and June 2011 earthquakes. Photo: AFP

The toxic material - discovered during the demolition of the former swimming and athletics complex - was believed to have been there for about 40 years.

The council had considered digging it up and trucking it to a landfill but decided the cheapest and safest option was to encapsulate it and bury it on-site.

QEII Park will soon be the new home of two high schools damaged in the earthquakes, as well as a rebuilt swimming pool.