A temporary navigation aid was installed at the end of the Oamaru Harbour breakwater on Monday, in place of the original tower, which has been taken away to be treated for rust.
The 7m navigational aid, installed at the breakwater by helicopter 15 years ago, was removed by a telehandler on Monday morning.
‘‘It has surface rust so needs to be sandblasted to remove the rust and the rest of the original protective coating, then re-coated to protect it for the future,’’ Waitaki District Council property manager Renee Julius said.
‘‘We carry out this type of maintenance before the rust affects the structural integrity.’’
The refurbished navigational aid is expected to be reinstalled at the breakwater in April.
Meanwhile, locked gates and signs warning the public to keep off the breakwater are still in place.
The council learned in June last year it was in breach of its consent for the breakwater if it allowed public access to the 1872 Heritage New Zealand category 1 structure.
Soon after, it applied for a variation to the resource consent, but on advice from Canadian management and consultancy service WPS Global Inc it will conduct a review to ‘‘formalise’’ its understanding of the risk associated with public access to help with the consenting process.
‘‘We’re still working on it,’’ Mrs Julius said.
