July 2010 is shaping as an important milestone in
construction of the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, as the
city's new venue is negotiated along the road to the Rugby
World Cup 2011.
Organisers of the international rugby event in New Zealand
intend to seek a detailed plan from Carisbrook Stadium Trust
officials, outlining the path to complete the stadium, about
the middle of next year.
Rugby New Zealand 2011 officials had already indicated the
new stadium was a "venue of choice".
However, the detailed plan, including a list of risks to the
project and key construction milestones, would need to be
approved before tournament organisers signed a venue
agreement to host matches at the stadium, trust development
director Darren Burden said yesterday.
If approved, a venue agreement was expected to follow "around
the same time", Mr Burden said.
Any irretrievable problems with the project could see the
city's tournament fixtures shifted to Carisbrook.
Dunedin has been allocated three matches involving northern
hemisphere teams England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy, as
well as two European teams yet to be confirmed.
Details of tournament organisers' requirements were included
in a stadium progress report, prepared by trust officials, to
be presented to the Dunedin City Council at a full meeting on
Monday.
The report, signed by Mr Burden and the trust's commercial
manager, Guy Hedderwick, painted a largely positive picture
of progress on the stadium, since construction began in May.
It detailed two small hiccups experienced to date, including
complications when requesting information for steelwork
orders as part of the procurement process, and "mechanical
issues" which delayed the use of a piling rig at the site by
a few days.
Trust officials were yet to determine if a delay would result
from problems with the steelwork information, while delays
using the piling rig could be made up, the report said.
Trust officials remained confident of meeting the August 1,
2011, completion date.
To date, about $22.3 million had been spent, while the total
cost committed through procurements was just under $61
million.
Three Dunedin companies - Fulton Hogan, Fletcher Reinforcing
and Hall Brothers - were among nine companies so far
confirmed to work at the site.
Hall Brothers had secured the contract for demolition,
Fletcher Reinforcing the contract for reinforcement supply
and fix work, and Fulton Hogan contracts for both excavation
and pre-cast flooring work.
Contracts for piling and crane work (Daniel Smith Industries,
of Christchurch), structural steelwork (Graysons Engineering,
of Auckland), ETFE roofing (Vector Foiltec, of the United
Kingdom) and pre-cast bleachers (Concretec, of Auckland) had
gone to companies outside Dunedin.
In total, 250 people had been put through the site's health
and safety induction programme, with between 50 and 100
expected on site on a daily basis.
The report also noted private fundraising was continuing,
with $25.93 million confirmed and another $5.93 million from
"seriously interested" potential buyers.
The total of $31.86 million was $13.64 million below the
trust's $45.5 million target, but "tracking ahead of
expectations" when compared to Westpac Stadium's efforts
during its construction phase, the report said.
In addition to a head naming right sponsorship deal with
Forsyth Barr, the trust had signed sponsorship deals - yet to
be announced - for the stadium's east stand and foyer, a meat
supplier and general sponsor group, and was close to deals
for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and vehicle sponsors.
Another five companies were tendering for the stadium's
catering contract, which was expected to be announced next
month.
chris.morris@odt.co.nz
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