Multi-million dollar project deferred

Press, 10 February 1981, Page 22

Multi-million dollar project deferred

Special correspondent Auckland A multi-million dollar project involving the rebuilding of the main public stand at Alexandra Park has been deferred by the Auckland Trotting Club. “We had hoped that, if the plans came to fruition,” said Mr Ross McLean yesterday, “it would be ready for the Inter Dominion Championships here in 1983.1 But that looks out now.” ! The scheme provided for demolition to the first floor of the stand, with two tiers of seating and viewing accommodation and “trackside” dining on a third floor. It was “the old story of lack of finance,” Mr McLean said. . “We believed the job would cost about $3 million, which we could have handled. But now the estimate is double that figure.” The club was constantly aware of the need, he said, to provide more covered accommodation, including totalisator facilities. Asked whether the club intended to extend the terraces near the winning post, Mr McLean said it would be a considerably more costly operation than first thought. When the ramp in front of the main public stand was built, much of the filling was in the form of huge rocks. According to Mr McLean,

it would be a “huge job, ’ quite apart from the cost. The A.T.CL was “pretty pleased” with the Cup meeting, which concluded last Saturday according to the secretary, Mr Jim Patterson. “Betting was up on each of the two nights,” he said, “and the over-all results were up to budget.” He agreed that the long holiday week-end probably had an effect on the size of the crowd. “And the weather could have been kinder.” Alexandra Park’s biggest rival in the night entertainment field, speedway at Western Springs — “one of their big nights” — was also major competition, Mr Patterson said. The question of whether the stake for the Auckland Trotting Cup next year would be increased would not be discussed until July or August, when the club annually decided on stakes for the new season.

The club continues to prosper though, Mr Patterson said. While it was unlikely that a profit on the season’s operations approaching last year’s record of $320,000 would be achieved. The present situation was healthy. Mr Patterson said course betting so far this season was up by 15.8 per cent and off-course betting by 6.5 per cent.- Attendances had increased by 16 per cent.