KEY POINTS:
Fletcher Construction has been provisionally appointed as the preferred contractor for the redevelopment of Eden Park for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Announcing the appointment today, Eden Park Redevelopment Board chairman John Waller said as a Kiwi firm, Fletchers had been associated with some of the most iconic developments in New Zealand's history, including Te Papa and the Sky Tower.
"The redevelopment of Eden Park for one of the world's major sporting events is a fitting addition to their construction pedigree."
The redevelopment to boost the stadium's capacity to 60,000 is estimated to cost around $200 million.
Mr Waller said that the appointment of Fletchers was being made several weeks ahead of schedule providing them with an early opportunity to participate with the project team in the remaining three design stages of the park prior to demolition and construction.
"The redevelopment board's strategy from the outset has been to mitigate construction cost and other risks by bringing the main contractor on board early in the design process," Mr Waller said.
"The procurement process is one that has been adopted on many high profile and large scale construction projects in New Zealand in recent years."
Mr Waller noted that, while there had been a misconception in recent times that the redevelopment faced a difficult time for completion, the project was still on schedule.
"The reality is that construction for this project is not scheduled to begin until August 2008 and the two year build period provides sufficient scope to complete the project well ahead of the opening of Rugby World Cup in September 2011."
Mr Waller said that the two other construction companies who had been short-listed for the project had, after initially submitting detailed expressions of interest, chosen to withdraw from the tender because of competing opportunities in the industry.
- NZPA
