Fences will remain around the demolished lot next to the Merivale Community Centre after Tauranga City Council received test results showing high levels of residual asbestos.

The fences, initially erected when the Hosanna Church was demolished last month, will continue as council monitors the level of the asbestos found after the demolition.

The recently demolished site of the Hosanna Church in Merivale has been identified as showing levels of residual asbestos.

Asbestos, a form of six silicate minerals, became increasingly popular in the building sector because of its affordability and resistance to fire, heat and electrical damage.

It was used right up until the 1970s, before it was discovered prolonged inhalation of the fibres can cause serious illness and death including malignant lung cancer.

The section was purchased from the Hosanna Fellowship Trust for $330,500 by council in February, before work began to demolish the church in an attempt to add valuable space to both the Merivale Community Centre and the community.

In a statement, released last week, council say they are taking measures to contain the residue with a layer of topsoil covering the site and fencing retained in place.

Department of Labour and council staff have visited the site carrying out inspections and installing temporary traffic management measures to ensure the area remains contained.

Tauranga City Council property services manager Anthony Averill could not comment on the severity of the level of asbestos, saying the investigations are still on-going.

'We are just waiting on the outcome of the investigations undertaken and then we will know what remedies need to be taken.

'There was some on the footpath but that's been cleaned up now.

Merivale Community Services manager Graham Cameron, whose facilities are next door, says they were informed of the test results yesterday but is confident it is nothing too serious.

'We are confident that the council know what they are doing and will make it safe and it won't affect anyone.

'I don't know what the level of contamination is but no one has come in and said ‘run'.”

He says the car parks located in front of the site have since been opened to the public again after discussions were held with council yesterday, to move the cordon closer to the site.

'The only impact it is having is, of course, more people are interested about why there are big fences around the site.”