Essential facelift for Cobb power station

The 81-year-old Cobb Power Station in Upper Tākaka is getting a little work done, with local contractors working to replace the roof and wall cladding.

The dam sits at the junction of the Takaka and Cobb Rivers in the Kahurangi National Park and has supplied electricity to the region since May 1944.

Manawa Energy project manager Andy Richards is leading the recladding project, which began in January and is due to be completed in June.

“The existing Cobb powerhouse was built in 1958, replacing the original powerhouse from the 1940s, and the cladding has reached the end of its lifespan.

This upgrade will ensure the station remains weatherproof for decades,” says Andy.

While the site work is underway, the Cobb team continues operations at the power station.

Cobb Generation site leader Joel McErlane says that the recladding project has transformed the station over the last couple of months, with approximately 80 tonnes of scaffolding installed internally and externally.

“The entire scaffolding area has been wrapped in plastic, protecting our equipment from the elements and allowing us to keep the station operational as the project progresses,” Joel says.

A Manawa representative notes that the plastic will be recycled after the project is finished.

For safety reasons, the Manawa Energy team requests that, where possible, the public avoids traveling up the narrow Cobb Dam Road to the power station on weekdays. The increased project traffic includes large vehicles requiring pilot vehicle escorts, and due to the high number of project vehicles on site, no parking is available for the public or visitors at the station.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience and look forward to sharing the results with the community once the project is complete in June,” Joel says.

Andy and Joel are grateful to the many local contractor teams involved in the project.

“A huge thank you to all the contractors contributing to the long pioneering history of Cobb Power Station, ensuring its legacy for future generations, including Iconic Cladding, the main contractor; Advanced Access, responsible for scaffolding; Trafalgar Painting, handling the cladding removal; Veridian Glass, managing all glazing work; Motueka Electrical, for electrical installation; Infield Engineers, taking care of the structural steel; and Lift’n’Shift, responsible for trucking and cranage.”