Three grandstands at Manfeild demolished

Three Manfeild Park grandstands bordering Brendon Hartley Drive have been demolished.

The buildings' fate was sealed because they did not meet code compliance for earthquake risk. Asbestos and fire risk were another factor in the demolition of the three grandstands.

The grandstands dated back to the Feilding Jockey Club from 1890 and ended in 1999 when the club moved to Awapuni.

The land and chattels were sold to the Manawatu¯ District Council which then handed them over to the Manfeild Park Trust where they were used for a variety of community and commercial purposes.

The complete removal of the most modern of the three structures took a week and the other two were each demolished in days following.

Central Demolition's Ian Butcher said all buildings offered different challenges.

The overhanging roofs were taken apart and deconstruction was started at the outside edges with the asbestos in all three buildings requiring special care

“The biggest determining factor with any demolition now is how you remove that material safely. There are a lot of controls and regulation around that.”

Brick and timber materials were salvaged from the oldest of the three buildings and concrete was also recycled.

“Brick and concrete are easy to demolish — concrete can be recycled as a clean fill product. The brick is not easily re-used because of the type of mortar but the potential for the timber is high.”