Hamish McNeilly/Stuff
Paramedics helping an injured worker into an ambulance following Friday’s explosion.
Work has resumed on an upgrade of Dunedin’s central business district after a worker was seriously injured.
Emergency services were called to George St just before 9am on Friday after reports of an explosion.
The Isaac Construction worker, who was initially assisted at the scene by an off-duty doctor, was taken to nearby Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries.
Those injuries were caused when a live electrical cable was cut at the site. WorkSafe is investigating the incident.
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Dunedin City Council corporate and quality general manager Robert West said work had resumed on the George St Retail Quarter upgrade.
Both Isaac Construction and the council were in contact with WorkSafe and were helping in any way possible, West said.
Hamish McNeilly / Stuff
Emergency services at the scene of George St, Dunedin, which is undergoing a major redevelopment. An injured worker was taken from the site.
“Throughout this, the welfare of the injured worker has been our top priority, and we have been working over the weekend to support Isaac Construction, including offers of support to the worker’s family and colleagues.
“We wish the worker a speedy recovery and will continue to support them and Isaac Construction in whatever way we can.”
The incident caused no significant delays to the project, a multimillion upgrade of Dunedin’s major retail street.
Hamish McNeilly/Stuff
George St in Dunedin was the scene of an explosion on Friday morning.
The work is part of a major upgrade of George St, beginning with the block outside of Farmers. Work to allow the replacement of pipes has left that particular block reduced to one lane.
Five hundred metres of pipe is being repaired, replaced or upgraded as part of a $60 million project called ‘Totally Georgeous.’?
The city council allocated an additional $28.2m to redesign the surface of the road and turn traffic one way to make room for public event and casual entertainment spaces.
This will be done in blocks, and is expected to be finished in 2024.
