Delicately moving a huge structural scaffolding section into place above St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, yesterday signalled a new phase in the cathedral’s recovery from a damaging fire.
Cathedral dean the Very Rev Dr Tony Curtis said that much earlier preliminary work and planning had been undertaken after fire tore through the cathedral roof early on August 11.
The skilful manoeuvring of the complex, 6.8-tonne, 800sqm section of scaffolding into its roof-top position by about 10am yesterday, using a mobile crane, had marked a big new phase in the work, he said.
"It’s an important step towards what comes next."
There was a "real sense of energy and optimism" about getting the major part of the structural scaffolding in place, as the roof repairs drew closer.
After another smaller scaffolding section was added to the western end of the cathedral roof, a plastic protective tent would lifted into place, and then the main roof repair work would be undertaken.
"Over the coming months, the ceiling and roof of the ‘new’ part of St Paul’s will gradually be restored, and the worship space improved, as part of our vision to provide a beautiful and welcoming church which can also be used for concerts, performances and installations," he said.
United Scaffolding Ltd Dunedin branch manager Stu Carse said he had been in the scaffolding industry for 37 years and this was the most challenging roof-top structural scaffolding section he had worked with during his entire career in that field.
Extensive planning, and careful design and lifting had contributed to the positive outcome.
A group of 10 staff stationed on the roof were led by firm operations supervisor Will Labes.
"It went very smoothly," although some rising winds after 9am had posed a potential complication, Mr Carse said.
Wae Ltd crane operator Lyle Cottenden said the firm’s 130-tonne mobile crane had handled the lift well.
