Work has kicked off on Blenheim's new multimillion-dollar sports hub only hours into New Zealand's first day at alert level 3.
General view during of Blenheim's Lansdowne Park in 2019. Photo: Photosport / Chris Symes
Marlborough company Robinson Construction Limited started construction on Lansdowne Park's new $4.3 million building this morning, after being awarded the tender to build.
The park's multi-code shared space was first mooted nearly a decade ago, and was set to feature toilets and change rooms for netball, rugby union, touch rugby and softball, as well as office space for sports administration staff.
It would be nestled between the rugby fields and netball courts, with a bar, kitchen, function area, equipment storerooms, umpire rooms and a tuck shop on site.
Council property and community facilities manager Jamie Lyall said the appointment of a local construction company would assist the region's economy and have positive flow-on effects.
"This is a project that will be carried out by locals, for locals."
The project would also create construction jobs, he said.
"From the beginning of the project through to the end, local excavators, builders and block layers, roofers, plumbers and electricians, painters, and landscapers will all contribute."
The designs for the Lansdowne Park sports hub. Photo: Supplied / MDC
The council would work with Robinson Construction to ensure it kept to its Covid-19 working plan. Construction on the new sports hub was expected to take about 12 months to complete.
A council spokesperson said the project was not one of the 16 "shovel ready" projects the council put forward to the government for funding earlier this month.
What's open under Alert Level 3?
- Public toilets - closed
- Playgrounds - closed
- Libraries - closed
- Transfer stations - open
- Resource recovery centre - open
- Bluegums landfill - open for businesses
- Council offices - closed
- Bus services - only off-peak services in Blenheim, Picton and Renwick
- Wither Hills and Victoria Domain mountain bike tracks - closed
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