Accused offered ‘every assistance’ – Bennett
Upgrades to Seddon Park to host Cricket World Cup games have a hefty price tag, reports Aaron Leaman.
A television audience of one billion people is expected to tune in to watch cricket matches at Hamilton’s Seddon Park next year.
But capturing a worldwide viewership doesn’t come cheap, with the city council spending hundreds of thousands of dollars upgrading the park.
And there could be more costs to come with sources saying the council is considering investing in a permanent tower at the ground to house television cameras and commentators.
Hamilton will host three day-night fixtures at the venue during the Cricket World Cup in February and March.
The tournament is jointly hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
The council won the right to host the Cricket World Cup matches on the condition that Seddon Park’s player and match officials facilities were upgraded.
The upgrade to the off-field facilities will cost $727,400.
The council agreed to fund $270,000 of the upgrade cost while the Northern Districts Cricket Association (NDCA) was tasked with funding the balance.
This year the council agreed to lend Northern Districts $140,000 to ensure the must-have upgrade went ahead.
And the Waikato Times now understands that the council is considering making a further investment in the park with the proposal to build a permanent tower to house television cameras and match commentators.
Sources inside Hamilton’s cricket scene say the structure could cost about $600,000, with costs shared among several parties including the city council. The council’s share could be about $100,000.
Meanwhile, former Black Cap and Cricket World Cup cricket operations manager Gavin Larsen has visited Hamilton to update city councillors on preparations for the tournament.
The city hosts Ireland as they take on defending cricket world champs India on March 10 – with the promise of an enormous television audience.
Larsen said International Cricket Council (ICC) officials were ‘‘very, very pleased’’ with the progress at Seddon Park and acknowledged the council’s investment.
South Africa will play Zimbabwe in Hamilton on February 14 while the Black Caps take on Bangladesh at Seddon Park on March 13.
Hosting India at Seddon Park ‘‘took things to a new level’’ and ensured a large television audience, Larsen said.
‘‘Hamilton’s three matches will showcase the city to the world and more than one billion people will be tuning in to watch Seddon Park in action in February and March next year and that’s a lot of eyeballs,’’ Larsen said.
The upgrades to Seddon Park also created ‘‘a brilliant legacy’’ for Hamilton and New Zealand cricket, he said.
‘‘It [upgrades] will assist enormously, I believe, in ensuring international cricket continues to be staged annually here in Hamilton.’’
NDCA chief executive Peter Roach said there was no part of Seddon Park’s facilities that had not been touched and improved.
Councillors were also told that preparations for the hosting of eight matches during next year’s Fifa U-20 World Cup were on track. Entertainment Family notices News Opinion Racing Sport Television Weather World Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett was shaken by the shootings but said it was a step too far to put armed guards at Work and Income offices. Double-murder accused Russel John Tully was offered ‘‘every assistance’’ by government agencies, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says.
Tully, 48, stood quietly in the dock for an appearance in Christchurch District Court yesterday, a day after the shootings in Ashburton’s Work and Income office and a day-long manhunt.
He was remanded by Judge Joanna Maze on charges of murdering two Ashburton women and attempting to murder a third woman.
Tully was described as a homeless beneficiary and the court documents gave his address as ‘‘No fixed abode, Ashburton’’.
At the request of defence counsel Trudi Aickin, Maze remanded Tully for an appearance in the High Court at Christchurch on September 23. Bail was not sought.
Bennett and Work and Income chief executive Brendan Boyle placed flowers at the cordon before speaking to media yesterday.
They had met the Ashburton Work and Income staff, she said.
‘‘Right now, they want to be together and talk it through.
‘‘There is lots of tears . . . not much sleep. Still wavering between the shock and trauma of what it is. It’s pretty humbling to hear things about the staff here.’’
Bennett said they had no answers to speculation about why the shooting happened.
She was convinced Tully was offered ‘‘every assistance’’. He had declined some offers.
There was no fault on the part of any Work and Income worker, Bennett said.
Boyle said there had been 11 assaults on Work and Income staff in the past six months and about 70 or 80 threats deemed serious enough for ‘‘intervention’’.
The latest of these was in Blenheim yesterday, which involved a firearm threat by phone. Police dealt with it, Boyle said. There would be a safety inquiry and an independent security review for Work and Income offices across New Zealand, he said.
Counselling was being offered to all staff.
Asked if bullet proof glass was an op- tion, Boyle said he was ‘‘very wary of turning the office into a fortress’’.
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald confirmed that Tully did not have a firearms licence.
Inquiries were continuing to locate the shotgun used in the shooting and establish from where it was obtained.
Two runners who came into contact with the gunman on the Ashburton River Track had come forward to police.
About 80 police staff were still working on the investigation. Two scenes were being examined.
Police would likely be at the Cass St scene for three to four more days, Fitzgerald said.
He refused to answer questions about specifics of the investigation because the case was before the courts.