11 Dec 2014

Basin Reserve upgrade 'necessary'

11:09 am on 11 December 2014

A mooted $20 million makeover of Wellington's Basin Reserve is necessary to attract one-day international cricket games to the ground, Cricket Wellington says.

The cricketing body wants ratepayers to fund the upgrades, which include demolishing the quake-prone Museum Stand, increasing the ground's capacity to 15,000 and installing new floodlights.

Cricket Wellington chief executive Peter Clinton said the makeover had been planned for 20 years.

He said new floodlights would be a big factor in luring international tours to the ground and in hosting day night games.

Peter Clinton said a new pavillion would also have to be built if the New Zealand Transport Agency's proposed $90 million flyover goes ahead on appeal.

Wellington City Council has until mid-next year to decide whether to push on with the upgrades.