Work at a popular Havelock North sports park has left it littered with stones and prompted a council investigation into why soil used for the project was trucked in from a council manager's property.
A major upgrade aimed at improving the playing fields at Havelock North's Anderson Park, undertaken by Hastings District Council, has involved installing underground drainage and pop up irrigation.
The work involved in digging up the grounds brought stones to the surface, the council's parks and property services manager, Colin Hosford, said.
"Soil was also brought in to improve the playing surface of the park and this has contributed to the stony surface."
Workers employed by a council-owned contracting business unit had spent the week on their hands and knees picking up stones and other debris at the park.
After further inquiries by Hawke's Bay Today the council confirmed some of the soil used in the project came from a Puketapu property owned by Ron Sheridan, the general manager of the council's parks and services delivery unit, the contracting arm of the council that carried out the work.
Mr Sheridan had donated the top soil, council spokesman Ross Holden said.
"The type of soil that comes from the Moteo Pa Rd area [where Mr Sheridan lives] contains a high proportion of sand and has previously been identified as having good drainage characteristics, ideal for developing the playing surface of sport fields," Mr Holden said.
"A cost comparison was done before accepting this donation, and including cartage, it worked out cheaper than could be achieved by having soil delivered by other suppliers."
The council's asset management group manager, David Fraser, said: "We have looked into the process that was used to procure this soil and we are satisfied that there has been no misuse of ratepayers' money."
However, he said the council was not satisfied with the quality of the park surface which was the responsibility of the parks and services delivery unit.
"We have tasked them with putting things right and ensuring that the project is completed to a high standard. This project was developed in order to create a top quality playing surface at Anderson Park and that is what we will deliver," Mr Fraser said.
Anderson Park has been unavailable for sports events while the upgrade work has been undertaken.
It is hoped the grounds will be available in time for the start of the rugby season in autumn.
Derek Ward, a committee member of the Havelock North Cricket Club, who are based at the park, said the club had been forced to play away games all season and did not expect to be back playing on their home ground until next season.
"There's a heck of a lot of stones in the dirt and I don't envy them getting them out," Mr Ward said.
"I wouldn't want to be a rugby player on it. And unfortunately I don't know that we're going to get any cricket on it this season," he said.
Mr Ward said the council had prepared practice grass wickets elsewhere for the club to use, which it hadn't charged for.