Cornice falls on footpath

No-one was hurt when a 2m section of Oamaru stone cornice fell from the former Dunedin police station on to a footpath on State Highway 1, opposite to the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, late yesterday afternoon.

Peter Southwick, of Wanaka, a director of the building's owner, Rio McGregor Pty Ltd, said the category 2-listed heritage building, now called Dunbar House, was a strong structure which matched or exceeded earthquake strength requirements.

The masonry had fallen in an area with restricted public access because of continuing work on the nearby courthouse complex, and courthouse contractors Amalgamated Builders Ltd had further restricted access to the immediate area and would report on what repairs were needed, he said.