Costs rise for Stadium Southland rebuild

Rebuild costs for the rebuilding of Stadium Southland in Invercargill are rising because of additional work needed to complete the core block.

Stadium Trust Deputy Chairman Alan Dennis recently advised that even though $1 million on the steel structure for the venue, completion of the core block would now cost about $2 million, with total costs of the rebuild now budgeted to reach over $40 million.

With the structure having to be earthquake strengthening, the arena is now expected to be completed in October.

The venue is being rebuilt following the collapse of its roof in September 2010 after a heavy snow fall.

A recent report released by the New Zealand Department of Building and Housing highlighted that Stadium Southland's roof collapsed because of substandard building design and construction.

An independent investigation commissioned by the Department, conducted jointly by Hyland and StructureSmith, found four key factors had contributed to the building's collapse including:

• Heavy snowfall

• Problems with remedial works during construction

• Construction defects, and

• Design problems.

The investigation stated that "the snow on the roof did not exceed the snow loading standard of the time."

The investigators found that when sagging of the Stadium roof was observed during construction, remedial works were carried out (including steel fabrication and welding) but these were not sufficient to ensure the integrity of the stadium.

The deficiency in steel fabrication and welding demonstrates inadequate supervision of the remedial construction work.

If the stadium had been constructed in accordance with the design documents for remedial works and construction Standards of the time, it is unlikely it would have collapsed under the snow, sleet and rain on 18th September 2010.

The Department of Building and Housing has accepted the report findings and recommendation that it provide guidance on the design of roof structures that are subject to snow loading.

The Department is also looking into the practicalities of the recommendation that building owners install snow alarms in long span (over 20 metres) steel structure buildings to warn occupants in case of excessive snow loading.

Department of Building and Housing Chief Executive Katrina Bach said the Department would issue a Practice Advisory to Territorial Authorities to encourage building owners to check long span (over 20 metres) steel structures for any of the defects identified by the investigation.

Bach stated "as a matter of course, responsible building owners regularly inspect and maintain their building stock and the Practice Advisory will provide additional guidance on what they should be looking for in those inspections."

Bach said public entities would welcome the guidance from the Department as they owned and maintained many long-term community assets like stadiums, and were accountable to their local communities.

The investigation included a site examination, laboratory testing and 3D computer analysis.

For more information go to www.stadiumsouth.co.nz/home

10th July 2012 - SOUTHLAND OUTDOOR STADIUM TRUST STRUGGLING FOR FUNDS

10th June 2011 - INVERCARGILL CITY COUNCIL SUED OVER STADIUM SOUTHLAND COLLAPSE

5th October 2010 - COUNCIL AND STADIUM TRUST TO WORK TOGETHER TO REBUILD STADIUM SOUTHLAND