Waitōtara Hotel Fire
It was a sad day last week when the iconic Waitōtara Hotel was lost to a devastating fire. Fortunately, there was no loss of life, but none-the-less the tragedy will be felt for some time by the community. It’s been great to see the way people have supported Chris during this difficult time.
Now that the fire service and Health authorities have finished their work, the Council’s role is to support the building owners to make the site safe for the community.
This notice is to help keep you informed on what is happening with the site.
- The fire caused significant damage to the building, specifically the top storey and most of the roof has collapsed. It also caused debris to become airborne and deposited within the immediate area and potentially further.
- Health New Zealand carried out testing of debris at the Hotel. While the tests found asbestos in the building, Health NZ said there was a very low risk to public health. We have put a copy of Health New Zealand’s advice at the bottom of this page. Please read it carefully as it contains good information on what you should do after a fire and during any clean-up.
- Because of the structural instability of the building and the presence of asbestos containing material, the Council has issued a Dangerous Building Notice on the building. This notice, which is attached to the building, instructs the building owner to advise the Council of their plans (with Council support) to remove any dangers within 10 working days.
- Cordons and signage are currently in place around the whole block to prevent public access. Please stay well away from this area. We understand that there are a few properties that require access through Kells Street, which is all good.
We understand there are community initiatives underway to accommodate the dairy and NZ Post service which operated out of the Hotel. This is great and Council will support the community where possible.
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about the building, or if you have found any fire related debris, you can contact me on (tollfree) 0800 111 323 or mobile 027 3886604.
Kind regards
Jessica Sorensen
South Taranaki District Council Planning and Development Manager
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(Advice from Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand)
Low risk to public health following fire at South Taranaki hotel
Health New Zealand says testing following a recent fire at a South Taranaki hotel has revealed a very low risk to public health.
The testing was carried out following the fire that occurred at the Waitōtara Hotel on April 18.
Health New Zealand National Public Health Service interim clinical lead William Rainger says while testing of debris found asbestos in the building, there was a very low risk to public health.
“It was expected that asbestos would be present given the age of the building,” Rainger says.
“However, the debris has been contained at the site of the fire and the risk to the public is very low.”
Rainger says people should still be careful when dealing with potential contaminated ash and dust or removing any debris from their property.
He says people should adhere to the following public health advice that applies after a fire and during any clean-up:
- If it’s windy, close doors and windows, ensure any air conditioning units are switched off or set to internal air circulation mode and avoid going outside unnecessarily.
- If you normally rely on roof water for drinking water, ensure the drainpipe is closed off until your roof can be cleaned. You may need to use bottled water or water from other sources to drink.
- If there is debris from the fire on your property, call your local council for advice before removing it or undertaking gardening.
- Wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly after handling any debris, as it may contain asbestos.
- Keep children and pets away from ash and dust and ensure they do not pick up any debris from the fire.
- Damp down surfaces with a hose to stop dust and ash circulating in case asbestos may be present. Do not water blast surfaces or use a high-pressure hose as this risks spreading contaminated ash and debris.
- If you have been outside, leave your shoes at the door after cleaning-up so you do not bring ash or dust into your house.
- If carpet has been affected, wipe with a damp cloth instead of vacuuming.
- Wear a disposable mask (over nose & mouth), gloves and old cloths that can be disposed of after cleaning up, but preferably this should be done by professionals.
If you have concerns about health-related issues then please contact your medical practitioner or contact the Healthline on 0800 611 116.
For more information on asbestos:
Both WorkSafe and the Public Health Service have in depth information about asbestos and the risks. You can find more information at the following sites: Asbestos;Asbestos in Aotearoa New Zealand | WorkSafe
