McLean Park redevelopment nearly at halfway point

The redevelopment of McLean Park is on schedule. Photo / File

The redevelopment of McLean Park will reach the halfway point next week and is expected to be completed on schedule.

Tuesday will be day 40 of 80 working days of the re-turf and drainage project being undertaken by Napier City Council.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton, who was on hand to turn the sod on day one on April 9, said he was happy with the progress so far.

"Despite a few days of adverse weather, and the challenges that presents, our contractors are working really hard to get the job done on time.

"It's going to be a very different park when it's ready for our contractors to hand back to council in another 40 days or so."

Work already completed as part of the project includes the removal of material (most of which has been recycled along State Highway 2 south of Napier, where some groundwork was required) totalling 8000m3 of solid or 11000m3 of loose soil.

Peripheral stormwater mains have been built and drainage work is underway.

The drop-in wicket area of the park has been placed, there is seed planted and the building of a pump shed has also commenced.

NCC director of infrastructure Jon Kingsford said 5000m3 of high-grade sand is being mixed, ready for use on the park.

"The next steps include the laying of bidim material, placing draining metal and irrigation infrastructure, and installing the goal posts.

"Our turf, which is being grown at a specialist farm near Auckland, is looking lush and should be ready to be harvested and trucked to Napier in July."

The new turf will contain artificial fibres embedded in the backing to create additional strength.

Plastic sheeting ensures that root growth is carefully managed, and the grass able to be harvested following its growth cycle.

Residents had been informed of the scale of the project, and road management warnings are in place around the entrance to the park, and at the fill site on SH2.

The company heading the project has worked on major turf construction projects such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

A Mitre 10 Cup match is the first sporting fixture programmed to take place at the redeveloped McLean Park on September 2 - Hawke's Bay v Counties Manukau.