Park stage unlikely to be replaced

Press, 3 February 1982, Page 6

Park stage unlikely to be replaced

The Queen Elizabeth II Park outdoor concert stage destroyed by fire last year probably will not be replaced by the Christchurch City Council.

The parks and recreation committee was told yesterday thpt the future of concerts at the stadium was uncertain, and it might be better to provide temporary stages to suit visiting artists. Restoration work where the former stage stood could cost about $15,000. Some of the stadium seating could be replaced, and the back fence could be built again.

The council’s insurance assessors had received three tenders for replacing the stage, ranging from $38,926 to $48,199. The council could receive more than the lowest tender as an insurance payment. The rest of the insurance money, after restoration work, could be paid into the Queen Elizabeth II Park De-

velopment Fund. Sculpture Councillors said the windblown and damaged 1974 Commonwealth Games “sail sculpture’’ at the park should be dismantled and placed in storage until a more sheltered site at the park, probably after full development of the area, could be found for it. The $lB,OOO sculpture at the park’s entrance was financed mainly by Air New Zealand, which contributed $15,000. Another $3OOO came from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. Councillors have said the damaged’sculpture is an eyesore. It could cost $6380 to restore it. “The present derelict state of the work makes it graphically clear that the work as conceived by the sculptor was not capable of withstanding the boisterous winds

of the region," said Mr John Coley, the director of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery. in a report. He said the sculptor’s original forms should not be modified when the piece was refurbished in a more sheltered area. Pool use The new hydroslide fun rides at the park’s pool have helped boost attendances far beyond what councillors had expected. From December to January 77,258 people used the pool, compared with an average' 37,198 patrons for the prevoius three years during that period. Revenue was up 157 per cent, maybe because of the increased number of adults attracted to the pool to use the hydroslide. In the last month, .52 per cent of those paying to enter the pool bought a hydroslide ticket.