New site found for Auckland recycling plant destroyed by fire last month
The Abilities Group recycling plant after it burnt down on 17 April.
Photo:
RNZ / Kaye Albert
The recycling centre that burnt down on Auckland's North Shore last month has found a new site to accommodate staff.
The Abilities Recycling plant caught fire, burning to the ground and destroying critical equipment.
The organisation employs almost 120 employees with disabilities.
A smaller site has been found in Wairau Valley, which will continue the organisation's recycling work, but not E-waste.
Abilities managing director Peter Fraher said it was likely to take two years before they were fully operational once again.
"To replicate what Abilities had before, which was a totally integrated site, is, in the short term, almost impossible," he said.
"So we're looking at taking it step by step, our first priority is to look after our staff with disabilities."
Fraher said they had not defined just how many staff would be able to work at the new site, but they were looking at rostering.
"We hope that a good percentage of our people with disabilities can be accommodated at this location, which is still in the Wairau Valley and close to their normal commute."
The support the organisation has had from the community since the fire has been overwhelming and uplifting, Fraher said.
"When I get out of bed in the morning, and I think 'we've got a big road ahead', I just think of all the support we've had and it just uplifts me, and it uplifts all our team," he said.
"It's just been amazing, the New Zealand community, it's alive and well, and we want to thank everybody, just from my heart, from the support we've had, it's just unbelievable."
Fraher said there was still more work to do.
"Our current planning is that it's a two year project, and we have that ultimate goal, but like any journey it's a step at a time, and we're working very hard to do it as soon as possible but we also have to be practical," he said.
"To accommodate 120 people with disabilities, and hopefully more, it's a big task and it's got to be done safely, so it's not going to happen overnight."
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