World Cup pitch takes shape

The soil is in place at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. Photo / Supplied

Turf is scheduled to be laid inside Dunedin's new fully enclosed Forsyth Barr Stadium this week.

Chris Hunter, chief executive of Hawkins Construction, said the soil was down and the grass would be laid this week.

"There's been great progress," he said. "With the main roof being completed prior to Christmas, providing a weather-tight envelope under the permanently fixed UV transmitting ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) roofing, the focus for the past month has been the establishment of the soil matrix to support the permanent natural grass playing surface.

"This process has culminated in the turf being sown this month and this is in line with the ideal programme for establishment of a quality playing surface for Rugby World Cup.

"With the critical path superstructure and the playing surface sown, the focus now shifts on to the completion of the ancillary stands west and east, interior fit-out and services commissioning, and the wider landscaping and carparking.

"All remaining items are on target to meet overall programme milestone dates required for RWC," Hunter said.

The new stadium will replace Carisbrook and will seat 29,000 to 30,000 people.

Rugby World Cup chief executive Martin Snedden said Carisbrook, with the same seating capacity but no roof, would be maintained as a back-up.

The new Dunedin stadium is one of the largest building projects under way in New Zealand.