No cheap fix for McLean Park drainage issues

The abandonment of an ODI against Australia at McLean Park in February highlighted a need for "urgent remedial" work at the grounds. Photo / File

Fixing McLean Park to ensure it does not fall off the international sporting circuit is expected to cost more than $2 million.

Later this year the Napier park will undergo a "full reconstruction" including sub surface drainage, irrigation installation, and the laying of a new hybrid turf.

Napier City Council - which owns the venue - believe this will ensure the park is fit to host future international cricket matches, after two games were not able to go ahead at the park earlier this year.

In February a Black Caps ODI against Australia was abandoned after a day of heavy rain followed weeks of dry conditions - this was the third abandonment of a game at McLean Park since late 2013 relating to drainage issues.

A report into the incident - commissioned by the council with New Zealand Cricket - found the park's ground was not fit for purpose, and highlighted a need for urgent remedial work on the venue's turf, drainage and irrigation system.

After an ODI between the Black Caps and South Africa was relocated to Hamilton, the council announced a full turf upgrade of the park, expected to cost at least $900,000.

However, a paper to be presented to a council strategy and infrastructure committee today states making the grounds fit for purpose is expected to cost over $2m.

The paper, written by council team leader parks, reserves, and sport grounds Debra Stewart, states that to rectify issues at the park there would need to be an excavation of the existing outfield, construction of a gravel (drainage) raft and laying of a new turf.

Undertaking drainage improvement works, and irrigation system improvements as a co-ordinated project was also needed.

Although $851,000 had been set aside for this project in the 2017/2018 annual plan, this would be "inadequate" to complete the combined project which would have a total cost of $2m plus.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said this figure was increased partly as council had decided to go for a "much higher grade" turf.

The cost of this turf, the MOTZ Eclipse, was not yet known.

In her report, Ms Stewart noted if the re-turf was not completed, "McLean Park could be considered unfit in terms of its ability to host international cricket games".

As the park was the only Hawke's Bay facility capable of hosting international cricket, not completing the re-turf would mean no cricket games would be allocated to Hawke's Bay.

It was for this reason Mr Dalton said the $2m - while a large amount of money - would be well spent to bring the park up to international standard.

"Otherwise we'll be off the international cricket circuit, and the international rugby circuit, and that will be appalling for the Hawke's Bay economy."

The paper noted the remainder of the project would be funded from existing sports ground infrastructure budget provisions in the annual plan, including $1.95m in 2017/2018, and $461,000 in 2018/2019.

The hybrid turf has been ordered, and timeframes for the project were expected to be "very tight", with a window of just three months.

Although New Zealand Cricket had expressed concern around the ground being re-turfed
in sufficient time for scheduled ODIs in 2018, council had been assured the ground would be ready by mid-January 2018.

The Black Caps are scheduled to play ODIs against Pakistan in January and England in February.

In 2014 the venue's drainage system received an upgrade, following a review of the stadium's outfield sparked by the abandonment of an ODI against the West Indies in 2013.