The contract has been signed, the site blessed – let construction commence.

Yesterday Ngai Tahu kaumātua Darren Rewi, Chaplain Robyn McPhail, St John officials and volunteers, successful contractors, Central Lakes Trust and Otago Community Trust trustees and invited guests gathered for a blessing of the Cromwell ambulance station site and sod-turning ceremony, in order that construction can commence.

Kaumātua Darren Rewi welcomed everyone; both he and Chaplain Robyn McPhail blessed the site, in readiness for the project to begin.

Chair of the St John South Island Trust Board, member of the National Property Committee and member of the project governance group Jo Conroy said she had been involved with the project for a long time.

“Today is a beginning for us,” Jo said. “It’s so positive to be here and see this now happening.

“We look forward to the new building and what it will do not just for Cromwell, but for all of Central Otago.”

In October last year, the old station was demolished to make way for the new facility to be built.

Jo thanked the Central Lakes Trust, Otago Community Trust and all who had been a part of getting the project to its start point, and would see it through to the finish.

Chair of the Project Governance Group for St John Cromwell Robert Miller, said it had been almost a year since the old station was demolished to make way for a new station which would future-proof the service St John provides to the Central Otago area.

Now, a contract for the build had been awarded to local company Breen Construction.

“We’ve finally got there after a sometimes challenging process.

“The project went out to public tender and after considering three local companies plus two others, the contract was awarded to Breen Construction.

“The site has now been blessed, so construction can commence as soon as possible.

“We expect the station to be completed mid-2021.

“I’m extremely pleased that we’ve got this far; it has been a challenge at times with costings and then COVID in the mix, but we’re now in a position to start the build.”

Ngai Tahu kaumātua Darren Rewi welcomed everyone and blessed the site.

Robert said using local expertise meant the project could now come in on budget.

“I’m extremely pleased the contract has been awarded to a reputable local company,” he said.

“Using a local company is good in many ways, and it helped to bring us back within the construction budget of $3.2 million.”

Cromwell station manager Dave Anderson said it was great to be moving forward with the project that would also have economic benefits for the wider community.

“It’s great to see a local company involved in the project,” Dave said.

“We’re really looking forward to operating out of our new station.”

Photos Mary Hinsen

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