Otago Cricket Association (OCA) chief executive Mike Coggan confirmed the cost of installing lights and enlarging the embankments at the venue was ‘‘creeping'' up.
Just how much the final bill will be is unclear. However, the Otago Daily Times understands the cost of expanding the embankments could more than double from the initial expectation of up to $300,000.
‘‘The tender process has closed in terms of the embankment component, so that is the bit we are now going to be working through at board level because those costs have increased - I can't tell you by what amount,'' Mr Coggan said when contacted yesterday.
‘‘But the other part to it is, at this point in time, the US dollar has also increased and if we were to purchase steel for the lights, then we would have an increased cost.''
Asked if the cost of the embankments had more than doubled, Mr Coggan responded, ‘‘I don't know if it has more than doubled. When we first went to the council to table this project ... the embankment project wasn't the major focus for funding. It was actually the lights.
‘‘Before we can secure the lights, we need to make sure the ground meets the minimum capacity of 6000-plus ... and the ground at 3500 wasn't going to cut it.''
To squeeze 6000 people into the University Oval, Mr Coggan said the embankments had to be built up and that meant installing a retaining wall on the west side which had not been anticipated.
‘‘We don't know what that cost may be ... so that is a major shift from where we were. We never really thought we'd need a 100m of retaining wall.''
Despite the setback, Mr Coggan is confident the OCA will raise the extra funds and the upgrade will be completed in time for next season.
‘‘We have to find solutions both with cost cutting and revenue generation to make sure the project is not stalled.
‘‘There are opportunities to increase the level of funding and certainly we need to look at our own level of potential borrowing with a view to looking at future income to off set that borrowing.
‘‘We've just got to be a bit savvy and think creatively as to how collectively little bits of funding plus reduction in costs may help us get this one across the line. I certainly don't see [the project] being in jeopardy.''
Mr Coggan said the international itinerary was busy during the next ‘‘four or five years'' and he saw the University Oval ‘‘having a major role to play'' for years to come.
‘‘I've inherited this project but I see the benefit in seeing it through to fruition.
‘‘Put it this way - if we didn't have a park up to that [specification] of 6000 ... we will very quickly become a cricket backwater.''
All going well, Mr Coggan said the consent application would be lodged in mid-January, with work beginning on the embankments in late February. The consent process for the lights was more complicated.
‘‘It is a lot more involved in terms of the wider community consultation,'' Mr Coggan said.
‘‘But if everything goes to plan, they will be in place ahead of the summer.''
