The paper, written by council team leader parks, reserves, and sport grounds Debra Stewart, states that to rectify issues at the park there would need to be an excavation of the existing outfield, construction of a gravel (drainage) raft and laying of a new turf.
A hybrid turf has been chosen for this purpose, as a traditional sand carpet was not considered appropriate for the park's multi-use nature.
There was also a need to undertake drainage improvement works, and irrigation system improvements as a coordinated project.
"The field requires full reconstruction including the sub surface drainage and
irrigation installation as well as laying the new hybrid turf.
A hybrid turf - the MOTZ Eclipse - has been ordered. The timeframes for the re-turf project are very tight and the window is limited to between November 2017 and early January 2018.
Although $851,000 had been set aside for this project in the 2017/2018 annual plan, this would be "inadequate" to complete the combined project - including drainage and irrigation - which would have a total cost of $2million plus.
A more accurate cost would be established once the design was completed.
The paper noted the remainder of the project would be funded from existing sports ground infrastructure budget provisions in the annual plan, including $1.95million in 2017/2018, and $461,000 in 2018/2019.
If the re-turf was not completed, "McLean Park could be considered unfit in terms of its ability to host international cricket games".
As the park was the only Hawke's Bay facility capable of hosting international cricket, not completing the re-turf would mean no cricket games would be allocated to Hawke's Bay.
Although New Zealand Cricket had expressed concern around the ground being re-turfed
in sufficient time for scheduled ODIs in 2018, the proposed supplier had assured council the ground would be ready by mid-January 2018.
The Black Caps are scheduled to play ODIs against Pakistan in January and England in February.
