Fred Ash demolition
The Frederick Ash building on Burwood Street, Newcastle and is located between The City of Newcastle's Administration Centre and the Clarendon Hotel.
The building, part of the ‘Burwood Wedge’ site (as it is commonly known), was previously used by Council for storage but it is no longer used for that purpose due to the severe disrepair of the building.
The Burwood Wedge is earmarked for a $94million development of state courthouse facilities. The land, currently owned by The City of Newcastle, is in the process of being sold. A condition of sale is the demolition of the disused Fred Ash building and this is due to be completed in March 2012.
Current status
The building is now a demolition site. Pedestrians and motorists should adhere to the traffic signage and any instructions given by the authorised demolition contractor.
| Schedule | Milestone |
|---|---|
| January | Site fencing and scaffolding erected, internal cleaning, roofs removed, upper level and lift tower demolished. |
| February | Progressive demolition of fl oors and walls from top down, removal of link bridges and disposal of debris. |
| Remaining stages | Excavation of footings, disposal of debris, site cleanup, removal of scaffolding and fencing. |
Newcastle State Courthouse Development Q&A
Q. What is the project all about?
A. Newcastle is one of the busiest court complexes in Australia and the third largest in NSW outside of Sydney.
The NSW Government 2010/11 budget included $94 million to replace the old Newcastle Courthouse sites in Church and Bolton Streets, with a brand new, state-of-the-art courthouse.
It will be located in the Newcastle CBD and it due to be completed in late 2014.
Q. How will Newcastle benefit from the project?
A. This exciting project will help to revitalise Hunter Street, create more jobs and provide an economic boost to the city.
Located on Burwood Street, the site is close to train and bus stations. The revitalisation works will open up a new pedestrian connection from King Street to Hunter Street breathing more life into the area.
The new Newcastle Courthouse development will replace the existing court facilities with a modern and functional facility to meet Newcastle’s growing local, district and Supreme Court needs.
Q. Why is it necessary to demolish the Frederick Ash warehouse building?
A. It is an essential condition of the land sale contract that the site be offered ‘vacant and clear of improvements and encumbrances’.
Initial sale negotiations stated that the project would not proceed if the site could not be entirely cleared.
Following a comprehensive external assessment of the demolition proposal, the contract condition was satisfied in July this year when Newcastle City Council agreed to manage the demolition process.
Q. Why isn’t the Council restoring the Frederick Ash warehouse building?
A. Apart from being an essential condition of the land sale contract that the site be vacant, the building itself is in a state of severe disrepair.
A hazardous materials survey conducted in September 2011 by Hazmat Services Pty Ltd found asbestos, synthetic material fibre, lead based paint, polychlorinated biphenyls and bird excreta and nests.
It is now a Council requirement for anyone entering the building to wear protective clothing to guard them from these hazardous materials.
Removal of these materials would involve significant cost and does not address structural and design issues (much of the building is structurally compromised and ceiling heights are too low for use in any other purpose than storage).
Q. Will the historical significance of Frederick Ash Group buildings which formerly occupied the site be preserved?
A. Absolutely. The City of Newcastle recognises the site has important historical significance and its role in our city’s business history.
For that reason, the development will include several options that recognise the historical significance and contribution of the Frederick Ash Group to mercantile development in Newcastle.
The common purpose behind the options is to incorporate the site’s history into public domain areas and pedestrian thoroughfares linking Hunter, Burwood and King Streets with Wheeler Place.
The Council wants to make sure interested community members will have their chance to provide input into these proposed design ideas and will be inviting comments on the options.
Q. How is Newcastle Council involved in the project?
A. After assessing a number of site options, Council-owned land on the corner of Hunter and Burwood Street (known as the ‘Burwood Wedge’) Newcastle was selected as the preferred site for the new courthouse development.
On 15 February 2011, Newcastle City Council agreed to sell land to the State Property Authority and on behalf of the Department of Attorney General and Justice who will develop the site and operate the new courthouse complex.
On 15 November 2011, Council approved awarding the tender to demolish the building that is currently scheduled to begin mid January and expected to take 10 weeks.
The Council will also be inviting comments from interested community members, on the proposed design ideas that are being developed to recognise the historical significance of the site.
Q. Why did Council agree to sell the land to the State Government?
A. The ‘Burwood Wedge’ site (as it is commonly known) has been identified as an under-utilised Council asset for nearly 10 years. With Council endorsement, opportunities to partner with the public and/or private sector for redevelopment of the site have been under investigation for much of that time.
It is currently used as a car parking area. It is also houses the now disused Frederick Ash warehouse building.
The warehouse building was previously used by Council for storage but it is no longer used for that purpose due to the severe disrepair of the building.
Energy Australia also used the building to house their electrical substation but recently relocated this due to safety concerns with staff working inside the building.
