The buildings were decommissioned during the 1980s and 1990s, releasing large areas of land to be redeveloped as office parks.

For many years the abattoirs located here were discharging large amounts of untreated waste into the Manukau Harbour.

For most of the middle of the 20th century it was a health hazard and its shell-fish a probable source of food poisoning.

The Waikaraka Cycleway ends at the bottom of Hugo Johnston Drive, next to the defunct Southdown Power Station.

Hugo Johnston Drive is the site of a historic 2.5ha asbestos cement dump used by James Hardie Industries from 1938 to 1983.