Stadium lights blow budget
Alarm bells are ringing as corroded stadium lights at an international sporting venue force council to consider a complete rebuild.
The stadium lights at Hamilton’s Seddon Park cricket ground are due a major refurbishment with, $2m budgeted, but a recent inspection found multiple issues and the cost could blow out to between $4.5m and $4.7m.
Hamilton City Council’s Venues, Tourism, and Major Events general manager Sean Murray briefed councillors yesterday saying the lights are due for renewal the headframes have been found to be corroded and there are significant weakness in the poles and to the stability of the concrete foundations.
‘‘We embarked on a renewal of the lights and the light fittings themselves and we were aware there would be some minor refurbishments for the holes and headframes,’’ Murray said.
‘‘We have some significant structural issues. The poles themselves need to be significantly strengthened.’’ The necessary funds would need to be taken from other projects already in the long term plan so new light towers could be built.
‘‘The solution is to not fix all of the problems,’’ Murray said. ‘‘The cheaper solution is to actually do a cheaper replacement of the light towers rather than do fixes.’’ And time is of the essence. Contractual obligations with Northern Districts Cricket mean there is a short window, between summers, to the get the work done.
‘‘As soon as the season finishes, we need to start the rebuild programme, virtually the next day, so as not to interfere with the following season,’’ Murray said.
Councillor Garry Mallett, also the chairman of the Finance Committee, said taking money from other projects would see vital works deferred.
‘‘So you’ll be coming to us with a scenario where you will take money from something else?’’ Mallett said. ‘‘We’ll be making two decisions. Yes – we’re going to replace the lights and yes – we’re going to not do something we’ve promised the community we would do.’’
Development general manager Chris Allen said council’s obligations to planned projects remain.
‘‘I just see this as a timing issue,’’ Allen said. ‘‘Anything we can’t do will be pushed out to next year.’’
Mayor Andrew King heavily scrutinised the staff report that replacement towers were absolutely necessary. He said the poles were consented 15 years ago and a simple replacement of the lights and headframe should allow the poles to remain.
‘‘This is a $4.7m spend. I’m just questioning that,’’ King said.
The foundations would need to be strengthened regardless of any other work being done, staff said. The proposal goes before the Finance Committee at its December meeting.