$90m in subcontracts agreed

Subcontracts worth $90 million have been approved for 14 companies for work on the Forsyth Barr Stadium, and 10 of those companies are based south of the Waitaki River.

Carisbrook Stadium Trust development director Darren Burden told a Dunedin City Council finance and strategy meeting yesterday the project was progressing well, and described the subcontracts as "significant progress".

Mr Burden said there was still about $20 million worth of subcontracts to be approved, and he expected those to be completed in the next two to three months, with 99% signed by Christmas.

The reports covered some controversial areas of the project, including the future of catering contracts.

The lack of kitchen and bar fit-outs has been raised by stadium opponents as proof of "exclusions" from the project to reduce cost projections.

Commercial manager Guy Hedderwick said there were four options for catering.

The options were:The caterer paying the full cost of the kitchen fit-out, and stadium management receiving a percentage of income.

A joint venture between stadium management and a caterer, where the fit-out cost was shared.

Management paying the cost of the fit-out and paying a caterer a commission for running it.

The stadium "doing it ourselves" and employing staff to run the kitchen.

He said there was money for a fit-out in the trust's furniture, fittings and equipment budget, but the trust was yet to decide on the best option.

Another controversial issue for the stadium has been grass growth.

Mr Burden said the key time for sowing the grass would be January 2011.

"Reinforcement", where polypropylene threads were used with grass to reinforce it, was an option.

Arrangements for that would be put in place, but it would be used only if necessary.

The trust has recently reported grass growth under its test rig was better than expected.

 

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