Demolition work has begun on the remains of the Wentworth Golf Club's main building after it was destroyed in last month's devastating blaze.
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Site supervisor Nick Worldon of the Adelaide-based Bay Building company, which is carrying out the work, said it would take his team of mainly Orange workers about 10 days to clear the site.
Mr Worldon said steel and concrete from the building would be cleaned, decontaminated and reused, while the rest of the rubble would go to the tip.
We try and recycle as much as we can.
- Nick Worldon, site supervisor
"Steel and concrete can be reused. The steel can be scrapped and the concrete can be crushed and used as gravel. We try and recycle as much as we can," he said.
Mr Worldon said there was asbestos in the rubble but not as much as first thought.
"Half of the building has a little bit. Because the building burnt down, the asbestos is not contained," he said.
However, he said the rubble had been kept wet to ensure the asbestos did not get into the air.
He said once the demolition was completed planning would start.
Mr Atkinson said the foundations at the eastern end of the site were intact.
"We have got to find out if the building can actually be restored," he said.
The alternative is a totally new building.
Mr Atkinson said the club would meet with officials from the Mudgee Golf Club in the next few weeks for an insight into how that club was rebuilt after it also suffered a fire several years ago.
"It took about three years. It's more about the hiccups they had," he said.
Mr Atkinson said the club hoped to have plans ready by September to submit to Orange City Council later this year.
The club's immediate priority is to set up a temporary clubhouse and storage area for golf buggies.
He said they also needed to transfer the liquor licence to a new site.
Two days after the fire, which broke out about 1.30am on Saturday May 18, police said it was not suspicious and it appeared an electrical fault was to blame.
Central West Police District commander Superintendent Chris Taylor said flammable items in the golf cart shed, which was part of the main building, fuelled the blaze.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
