Part of grandstand to be dismantled

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33563, 18 June 1974, Page 18

Part of grandstand to be dismantled

Part of the temporary grandstand at Queen Elizabeth II Park will be dismantled because it has now become unsafe. The wooden stand with Its 33 rows of seats was built for the Commonwealth Games period only, and the contract for its construction included the provision to dismantle all but the bottom eight rows of it. The City Engineer (Mr P. G. Secular) told the Christchurch City Council last evening that he was concerned about the movement, such as twisting and shrinkage, in the timber in the stand. “i am now unable to

certify the stand as safe for public use,” he said. By removing the two outer framing bays — and 11 tiers of seats — and strengthening the remaining inner bays, however, he would be prepared to certify the stand as safe. “It is difficult to estimate a life for this remaining structure, but I would expect it to be in excess of one year and, with continuous inspection and reasonable maintenance, to be rather longer,” he said. “It will be appreciated that this is an exceptionally large light timber-framed structure — probably the largest ever built in New Zealand — and, while per-

fectly safe through a few summer months, must be subject to deterioration, especially during winter periods,” he said.

The council’s consulting engineer (Mr Bill LovellSmith) said the amended plan for demolition — leaving 23 rows of seats instead of eight — would leave 8474 more seats than first intended and would preserve the “bowl” effect and wind protection of the stadium.