New Plymouth Power Station chimney, New Zealand
Posted by: 
Phronimos
S 39° 03.440 E 174° 01.642
60H E 242777 N 5672654
This 198m tall chimney was recognised as a New Zealand Engineering Heritage project as part of the IPENZ “Engineering to 1990” project, to celebrate New Zealand’s sesquicentenary in 1990.
Waymark Code: WM9NME
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 09/09/2010
Views: 4
When constructed in 1971, the New Plymouth Power Station chimney was the tallest structure in New Zealand at 198m /650 feet. It has since been surpassed by Auckland's Sky Tower (WM550D), but is still the tallest chimney in New Zealand. It is an easily visible landmark from over a wide area of the (north) Taranaki Province - even from the summit of 2,518m high Mt Taranaki 18 miles away.
The main structure of the chimney is a 90ft diameter reinforced concrete windshield which contains five 11ft diameter flues made of bricks, laid at the rate of 10,000 per day, supported by steel platforms at regular intervals throughout the height of the chimney. All up the chumney contains 16,400 tonnes of concrete, 1200 tonnes of reinforcing steel and almost one million bricks.
Slipforming of the windshield commenced in February 1971 and with one interruption was completed 9th April 1971 as a continuous pour at an average rate of 5 inches/hour.
The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) - the professional body which represents professional engineers from all disciplines in New Zealand - recognised this structure as a New Zealand Engineering Heritage project as part of the IPENZ “Engineering to 1990” project, to celebrate New Zealand’s sesquicentenary in 1990.
Location:
Contact Energy New Plymouth Power Station, Breakwater Road, Port Taranaki New Plymouth, New Zealand
Type of structure/site: Chimney
Date of Construction: 9/4/1971
Engineer/Architect/Builder etc.: Designer: Karrena Feuarungasbu GmbH – Germany; Project Manager: Ministry of Works and Development; Principal contractor: Downer & Co Ltd
Engineering Organization Listing: Other (specify in description)
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Web Site: Not listed
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