Revolutionary Method of Construction

The lower portion of a Gisborne City Council pumping station, in the form of a reinforced concrete cylinder, was placed in its position under the ground using a revolutionary method not seen in Poverty Bay before.

Situated adjacent to the railway line in Stanley Road, the cylinder was constructed in the open, and was then lowered by excavating the earth from inside it with a dragline, causing it to sink slowly into position.

×

 

• 

Trevor Lewis (contractor) and Reg Thompson manhandle the dragline's bucket inside the cylinder.

×

 

• 

The scene shortly after commencing operations

×

 

• 

Alan Mair checks the accuracy of the cylinder as it sinks down

×

 

• 

After a day's work, the cylinder was almost in position