Foodbank staff in Tauranga are awaiting confirmation of a new lease after being evicted from their Dive Crescent building on Friday because of an asbestos scare.

Foodbank volunteers were given an hour to clear the building following confirmation of asbestos in the soil outside the rear of the building.

The discovery of asbestos closed the foodbank recently. Photo: Andrew Campbell.

Community foodbank trust chairman Alan Plunkett remains upbeat about the change, saying a move from the dilapidated building has been looming for a while.

'The immediacy – the one hour's notice – was a huge surprise,” says Alan. 'But we had a meeting yesterday and said its arguably the best thing that's happened to us.

'We all sat there and laughed. We have got to get on with it now. We all know it's been coming. We've been picking dates and politely asking when we would told – now it's happened. End of argument, get on with it.”

The community foodbank will be closed for the rest of the week.

Dried and canned food remains locked in the old building, while details of the new lease on Brook Street, off Fraser Street, are ironed out.

The foodbank normally gives away 130-140 parcels over the course of a week, and Alan confirms that other agencies in town have been advised.

'No one's going to starve,” says Alan. 'It's just a matter of A letting B know, and we will get things sorted out. There are other people there that will get food to them.

'There's plenty of food out there, it's just a matter of asking for help. Tauranga's a wonderful town like that. You put your hand up and say ‘help' and someone comes out of the woodwork and helps. I'm quite confident that will take place.”

The closure will only last for a week, and the foodbank has successfully closed over the two-week Christmas/New Year holidays for two years in a row now.

Tauranga City Council Chief Executive Garry Poole says the building is closed as a precautionary measure.

'We've carried out further tests to help us determine whether there has been any airborne contamination within the building,” says Garry. 'We expect to have the results back later this week.

'The air test results will put us in a better position to decide on the next steps for the building and its contents.”

In the meantime, anyone wishing to donate non-perishable food items can visit the Salvation Army Tauranga Community Ministries office at 375 Cameron Road, or Tauranga Budget Advisory Service at the Historic Village on 17th Avenue.

Anyone who needs a food parcel should contact their referral agency for advice.