Outstanding Collaboration
2022 AWARD FINALIST
Sponsored by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
ATL Group and its partners have achieved high rates of recycling on a complex, long-term construction project.
ATL Group was brought on by Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), to carry out the large and complex asbestos removal and demolition for the former Masterton Hospital. The plan was to deconstruct 26 buildings and remove 450 metres of service tunnels so the land could be returned to greenfield condition. The hospital site is earmarked to be returned to Iwi as part of ongoing Treaty settlement negotiations.
Given the significance and scale of the site, minimising waste was a key priority. So far more than 718,000 kg of material has been salvaged, recycled and repurposed. This is roughly equivalent to the household waste generated by 1800 New Zealanders each year. Most of this was from saving native timber, metal, ceramics and cabinetry. This will continue to increase as demolition progresses and will see significant volumes of concrete being crushed and recycled.
Demolition and asbestos removal have largely been restricted by low budgets and constrained deadlines, but collaboration and clear understanding of the goals of the project have allowed it to achieve its financial, social and environmental targets.