The manager of Stadium Southland says there are no concerns
with the construction of the new $35 million arena, which is
designed by Alan Reay whose firm designed the CTV building in
Christchurch.
Stadium Southland general manager Nigel Skelt said all
structural plans for the new building, to replace the one
damaged during winter storms in 2010, have been subjected to
a strict peer-review process.
Dr Reay was appointed design engineer of the new stadium
before the collapse of the CTV building during the
Christchurch earthquake in February last year.
Mr Skelt said it was standard procedure for design and
structure plans to be peer-reviewed, and there had been ''no
concerns at all'' resulting from that process.
The royal commission's report into the CTV collapse this week
highlighted Alan Reay Consulting for its role in the plans
and construction of the doomed building, in which 115 people
died.
The commission found the CTV design was deficient in a number
of areas, and that it should never have been given a building
permit.
Mr Skelt said the commission's report had not caused any
concern for the Stadium Southland project.
''Right through the process, everything has been
peer-reviewed.
''That has taken some time in terms of the end product. It's
very rigorous,'' he said.
''We've been very vigilant through the peer-review process
and we've had no concerns whatsoever.''
The cost associated with having plans reviewed was ''into the
millions of dollars'', Mr Skelt said.
The new stadium is 70% complete, and is due to open in July
next year.
The ''heaviest snowfall seen in decades'' contributed to
destroying the original stadium in September 2010.
Dr Reay is yet to comment on the commission's findings.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.