There’s visual progress on the Cromwell St John ambulance station rebuild, as the structural steel framework is now being erected on site.

The structural steel framework is giving passers-by a glimpse of what the final station might look like.

Build progress is now visual, as the groundwork has been completed and the Breen Construction team has started the next phase of the project.

St John spokesperson Sarah Bloxham said local company Breen Construction had spent the last few weeks working on the ILS4 foundations.

“This took more time and resources,” she said, “But will ensure the station will be able to sustain a magnitude 8 seismic event.”

The new facility is to be built to the highest category for a building’s seismic resilience, designed to withstand AF8 (Alpine Fault Magnitude 8) so it can continue to function operationally through any event, with minimal interruption to emergency ambulance services.

The last exciting times onsite were in 2019, when the old station was demolished.

The steelworks are to be erected over the coming weeks and are projected to be about 60 percent complete before the site closes for the Christmas and New Year period.

“We would like to say thank you to all our funders and to the Cromwell community for all your support this year,” Sarah said.

“From all the team at St John Cromwell and Breen Construction Company, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.”

Images Mary Hinsen