BY IAN CROUCH
A proposal to create a grand staircase linking the Newcastle foreshore to Christ Church Cathedral has hit a major hurdle.
The contractor engaged to demolish the Hunter Street Mall car park on King Street has discovered asbestos in the subsoil and high voltage cables which would cut power to a significant part of the CBD and the city's East End if severed.
Concrete structures need to be laid to protect the cables while 3,250 thousand tonnes of contaminated soil needs to be removed to allow the demolition work to continue
Newcastle Council says the unexpected issues are likely to see the cost of the project blow out from $3.4 million to almost $7 million dollars.
The demolition was due to wrap up last month but is now expected to finish in June.
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| Newcastle Council's Stairway To Heaven Project |
