Rush to complete Adelaide Oval will cost $600,000

The redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval will not be finished before its official opening with management spending $600,000 just to have it operating at capacity in time.

According to a report in The Australian, handover of the venue from builder Lend Lease (formerly Baulderstone) to the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority (AOSMA) has been brought forward and some work will be put off in a rush to have the $535 million refurbishment ready for this weekend's Rolling Stones concert and the start of the AFL season.

The Australian reports that extra labour costs involved in moving the handover from 24th to 29th March will run to more than $100,000 for each of those five days cut from the contracted schedule.

The extra costs add to the $450,000 already paid by the South Australian Government to secure the Rolling Stones concert on 22nd March.

The date change will mean some work, such as weatherproofing of the western grandstand, will not be completed before the concert or the Port Adelaide vs Adelaide AFL lcash on 29th March.

The Australian reported last week that AOSMA Chief Executive Andrew Daniels had said it was important to reduce the risk of the venue not operating at capacity.

The earlier handover means:

• The northern car park will not be completed before the Showdown.

• Landscaping outside of the ground will be delayed, and

• Because of a reallocation of funds, the weatherproofing of the western stands will not begin until April.

Daniels defended the change and said all of the key components of the ground would be completed for the start of the football season and the concert.

He stated "the earlier handover date is beneficial for the Adelaide Oval SMA because it gives us more time to access the stadium ahead of both the Rolling Stones and the start of the football season.

"It means we will be able to provide additional and more thorough training for our staff, and will give our people greater opportunities to familiarise themselves with facilities at the venue."

The full report can be read in www.theaustralian.com.au 

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