A remote control digger clears out debris inside Christchurch Cathedral. Video / Supplied
A remote-operated digger has entered the Christ Church Cathedral to clear out debris inside.
The move is reportedly a world-first and is intended to keep workers safe outside while the digger clears debris, masonry and guano, a significant biohazard, inside the nave.
It is also focused on retrieving heritage fabric.
The work, beginning today, involves a digger being controlled by a driver in the operations centre outside the cathedral using cameras with live stream capabilities.
A remote-operated digger will enter the Christ Church Cathedral to clear out debris inside. Photo / George heard
In March this year, the roof of the cathedral was removed as part of the deconstruction phase of the rebuild.
Stabilisation work - the critical pathway efforts before actual rebuilding begins – on the 140-year-old Gothic-style church building began in May 2020.
The move is reportedly a world-first and is intended to keep workers safe outside while the digger clears debris, masonry and guano, a significant biohazard, inside the nave. Photo / George Heard
After years of public rows and wrangling, the Anglican Synod voted in 2017 by a narrow majority to reinstate the building.
Christchurch City Council granted a critical resource consent which allowed for the repair and restoration of heritage fabric along with the replacement of the west porch, tower and vestries on the main building.
It also enabled the superstructure of the main cathedral building to be seismically strengthened.
