Speculation that the removal of asbestos material from the heritage listed Roxy theatre building may be the first steps toward demolition were put to rest yesterday as the walls at the rear of the building began to be replaced.

Both internal and external walls were removed and suggestions arose that the move was pre-emptive of the proposed demolition to make way for a McDonalds restaurant, which is yet to be approved.

Developer and building owner Theo Zannes said on Thursday the intention had always been to replace the asbestos material.

“The asbestos removal was done over two weeks more than a month ago,” Mr Zannes claimed.

“It was done because I had workers available (from the Woolworths project, which Mr Zannes is also developing) to do the job.”

“People will be there on Monday (yesterday) to put the walls back up.”

Mr Zannes said that if the demolition approval does not pass through council the building needed to be free from any asbestos fibres in order to rent it out. He also stated that if the demolition is approved there is a certain procedure in which the asbestos needed to be removed before the demolition of the remainder of the building could take place.

“I had always planned for them (the asbestos walls) to be replaced. If I can’t get it (the demolition) approved I won’t be demolishing the building,” he said.

“It is a requirement that if anything is damaged it must be replaced and once you replace one (asbestos wall) you might as well replace the rest.”

There was a fair amount of approval to get it done as the asbestos needs to be removed safely.”

The removal was undertaken by a licensed contractor and abided by the requirements of Workcover NSW.