Post-quake cathedral plan ratified
CERA will check each step of the deconstruction.
Plans have been confirmed for a $45 million deconstruction and partial restoration of the earthquake-damaged Catholic cathedral in Barbadoes St, central Christchurch.
Unlike the Anglican Cathedral in The Square, the Catholic cathedral has largely escaped the same raging controversy over repair, restoration or partial demolition and rebuild.
The restoration of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament involves demolishing the front of the building and retaining the main body of the cathedral. A new entrance will be constructed.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has given the go ahead under Section 38 of the CER Act.
This approval means that the diocese can move forward with its plans to deconstruct badly damaged parts of the church to take “all reasonable steps” to save the nave of the building.
The deconstruction involves a 12-stage ‘test/hold” process, where each stage must be approved by CERA before work commences.
Lance Ryan, chairman of the cathedral management board, says that stage one, which is expected to take 12 months, will mostly consist of clearing the areas around the nave so a fuller investigation can be carried out on the ground underneath.
The diocese is seeking to fundraise $15 million in support of the $45 million plan.
Chris Hutching
Tue, 01 Sep 2015
Tue, 01 Sep 2015
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Post-quake cathedral plan ratified
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