THE FUTURE: A digital image of how the Rugby Park grandstand rebuild will look, showing the relocated players’ tunnel flanked by staff and subs dugouts. Picture supplied
A project to rebuild the grandstand at Rugby Park, originally funded as part of Covid-19 recovery four years ago might be taking longer than expected but as The Gisborne Herald’s Andrew Ashton found out the unexpected also throws up pleasant surprises.
The multimillion-dollar rebuild of the John Heikell Grandstand at Rugby Park is back under way, bigger and better than originally planned.
Crown Infrastructure Partners, a Crown-owned company, funded the project as one of four “shovel-ready” projects announced in 2020.
First costed at $8.5m, the build has now increased to $12m due to rising construction costs and unexpected work to make the ground firmer, It has also thrown in an extra surprise, in the form of a fully reworked pitch and new turf, all designed to the same specifications as the pitch at Waikato Stadium.
Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive Ray Noble compared the project to preparing for a cup final.
“It’s frustrating that it has taken so long but we only get one shot at this.
“Our approach has been to be thorough; we don’t want to rush and then miss things or overlook things. This structure was put up pretty quickly in the 1960s, which is one of the reasons why we had to get a new one. We want this one to last 60 or 70 years — we had to do our due diligence.”
Local sub-contractors had been used when possible, at the direction of the union’s board, with Gisborne’s Currie Construction on board as main contractor. Out-of-town specialist Field Turf NZ have been brought on for the new pitch work.
“It’s taken a little time to get all our ducks in a row but now we have them lined up we have about four things happening at once. It’s exciting times; this is a real tipping point for us.”
Stage 1 of the project is now in full swing following completed demolition of the changing rooms prior to Cyclone Gabrielle.
That stage of the project involves installing ground drainage, water tanks and creating embankment bleacher seats in front of the grandstand, along with the new “Rolls-Royce” pitch and turf, new dugout facility, as well as offices.
Resin was also injected into the ground to prevent liquefaction and bring it up to current earthquake standards. That means the grandstand structure can be retained.
Currie Construction expects that to take seven months to complete. Stage 2, involving the replacement of the grandstand seating and changing rooms fit-out is expected to take longer but will happen before the end of Stage 1.
“The pitch won’t be available for club rugby this season but depending on what sort of autumn we have there is a slim possibility Poverty Bay might be able to play on the pitch this Heartland season,” Mr Noble said.
The new grandstand would be almost two- thirds bigger in footprint with the addition of a grand entrance and new upgraded player and referee changing rooms as well as gender- inclusive toilets and shower facilities.
PBRFU chairman Hayden Swann said many of the facility improvements were up to NZ Rugby’s first-class standards, with the hope the stadium could host a top-flight fixture.
“I have visited every Heartland Championship ground in new Zealand and there will not be a better facility anywhere, once this is completed,” Mr Swann said.
“It’s really good to see the work well under way.”
Once work restarted after the cyclone it was realised the area needed a lot of ground remediation and, due to the high water table, the pitch would also need to be raised.
That was a major reason why the union needed to go back to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for additional funding.
Mr Noble also pointed out that it was important the facility was about “more than just rugby”.
“We have previously talked with the council and Civil Defence and talked about having a bit of a safe place to go to in the case of an emergency or tsunami.
“A key driver for the funding we applied for was not just a grandstand but a facility for the community as well. This is an investment not just into a grandstand but an investment in the community.”
PBRFU expects the facility and upgraded pitch to be available and usable seven days a week, as the new drainage would put an end to muddy fields after rain.
Artist Simon Lardelli was also commissioned to create four pou, which will sit at the entranceway.
Mr Swann said a big part of the project was what it would do for the region’s manaaki, which was all about how well the region treats and hosts its guests.
“This is all about pride in our region and pride in the jersey.”
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said he was supportive of MBIE providing the additional funding.
“This is not only valuable but long-standing infrastucture in an area where we need to ensure that our local community is resilient and they enjoy the settings that the rest of us take for granted in the rest of New Zealand.
“And, let’s face it, if we want kids out of court then ensure they remain in sport. To achieve that end, all of our regions deserve durable and modern infrastructure.”
The stand was originally built to accommodate crowds for the 1965 Springbok Tour. It was officially named in 2011 to honour the contribution by John Heikell to the game.
Heikell was a commentator, journalist and historian, a regular sight on the rugby and cricket fields in the province, and a life member of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union and Poverty Bay Cricket Association.