AusLeisure

With completion of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium just weeks away, Carisbrook Stadium Trust Chairman Malcolm Farry has praised the work of all involved in the development.

Following a recent visit to the stadium, Farry explained "I got in there when the seats were starting to go in and all the machinery and rubbish and rubble was out of the centre portion.

"The pitch had been rolled out flat to take the grass seed, and that blew my mind. I hadn't visualised it in that semi-finished state, and every time I go in there now I still get blown away. It might be good on the plans but, to be able to really visualise it finished, I get a smile on my face, and I'm still surprised every time I go in.

"I'm presuming the general public, when they see it for the first time, will be gob-smacked by what they are seeing. I think most of this community, maybe with experiences of places like Carisbrook, conjure up a mental image of a Carisbrook, and it's nothing like a Carisbrook."

Lush grass sits at the heart of the near-complete stadium, surrounded by a collar of the artificial Grassmaster system which has been woven into it to provide extra strength. About 20,000 seats are bolted into the north and south stands, and the stadium's clear-light roof sits over the top.

With the stadium due to be handed over to operators Dunedin Venues on 31st July, Farry adds "we will be on time, on budget and fit for purpose. But it has been quite a remarkable project. People said it couldn't be finished in that timeframe and people said you would have some huge budget blowouts.

"It's taken a lot of hard work from a lot of clever people to hold everything under control and keep it on track."

"As with any major project, there have been some last-minute changes, (including) ... additions recently given funding approval by Dunedin City Council."

Farry said most those extras were augmentations to stadium facilities and therefore didn't require significant changes to the building itself, adding "there was one area, the kitchens, which are being greatly enhanced over the original kitchens. That has been driven by, I guess, the people who got the catering contract and DVML. There is additional work there."

Construction work is still being done on the east and west wings of the stadium - most notably on the University of Otago building at the west end. The structure of the permanent stands is complete while many small jobs are being finished in order to complete the stadium.

"They're doing the final touches for the lounges, the corporate suites, stairways, that sort of thing. They are well on target for that. It's great up there (on the fourth floor of the south stand): it's an amazing view and gives you a great perspective of the stadium but we maintain, and people support this, that every seat is a premium seat you will get a good view from everywhere."

Farry concludes, "the sight lines and angles are based on best international practice."

The first rugby game at Forsyth Barr Stadium will be North Otago v West Coast on 7th August.

8th March 2010 - FORSYTH BARR STADIUM MAIN SOUTH STAND COMPLETED

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