Timaru’s landscape changes with the times

The retired boilers at the Timaru Hospital came down last weekend after half a century of use. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

An iconic part of the Timaru skyline since the early 1970s has disappeared.

The chimney stacks were removed from Timaru Hospital boilers last weekend.

The retired boilers at the Timaru Hospital came down last weekend after half a century of use. Photo: Supplied

South Canterbury District Health Board communications and engagement senior advisor Edward Cameron said the boilers — which had been used to heat the hospital — were decommissioned about five years ago.

Mr Cameron said each chimney weighed 7.5 tonnes.

The retired boilers at the Timaru Hospital came down last weekend after half a century of use. Photo: Supplied

Once removed, the steel stacks were cut in half and transported off site to be recycled at scrap metal yard.

He said prep work and planning to remove the chimneys took two weeks.

Contractors Total Spec Engineering and 360 Cranes completed the work. — Allied Media