Repairs ‘far more than thought’

Invercargill’s Rugby Park repairs are expected to cost ‘‘significantly’’ more than expected and will not be sorted in time for this year’s Southland Stags season.

The Rugby Southland’s offices, as well as the Rugby Southland Supporters Clubrooms, were closed to the public last year after toxic mould was found.

In November, it was also revealed that of the 3400 grandstand seats at Rugby Park, 1567 were now off-limits because of safety concerns.

An engineering firm warned that the results could be catastrophic if the bleachers at the west end of the ground are used.

At that time, the repair work needed at Rugby Park was estimated at $387,000. However, Invercargill City Council chief executive Clare Hadley told councillors at a meeting yesterday that new information suggests the cost would be much more.

Hadley met with Rugby Southland chairman Bernie McKone and deputy chairwoman Mary-Jane Thomas last week and advised them that Rugby Southland would be able to return to its offices by July 1.

She said they agreed they would put the foot to the floor to get the work completed by June 30.

Hadley and Thomas agreed to engage Brent Henderson, of Henderson Construction, to take a look at the work required.

Following the visit, Henderson raised concerns. It led to Henderson meeting with a representative of Kensington Consulting, the engineering firm that carried out an initial assessment of Rugby Park.

Hadley then told Rugby Southland on Monday that getting the problems fixed by July 1 was not possible.

‘‘The advice I’ve had ... is that there is a considerable amount of work that needs to take place before you can safely let people back into that area,’’ Hadley said.

The cost of the required work is unknown. ‘‘We will need to come back to you with a price for it because it could be considerably more than any of the figures that have previously been bandied around,’’ Hadley told councillors.

Councillor Nobby Clark said the council had known about the problems at Rugby Park for a year and he was disappointed they hadn’t already been sorted.

‘‘I just find that unacceptable.’’ Councillor Peter Kett was also disappointed and pointed the finger at council staff. He said some time between council taking over ownership in 2015 and August 2016, council staff cleaned seats using ‘‘highpowered water blasters’’.

‘‘The fault was caused by council staff, they know it. Everyone has been tight-lipped about.’’

‘‘The fault was caused by council staff, they know it.’’

Peter Kett

Invercargill City councillor