The owners of the quake-prone Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth have decided to demolish the East Stand and rebuild it with a wider focus on community sport.
Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth. Photo: Photosport
The home of Taranaki rugby, Yarrow has been closed since 2017 and its owner - Taranaki Regional Council - is planning a $50 million repair and upgrade of the stadium.
The project has received $20m in government shovel-ready projects funding for the redevelopment.
Chair David MacLeod said the decision to rebuild the East Stand would not affect the overall budget. He said engineering issues meant repairing the East Stand was not possible.
"There's been a significant amount of work done on the East Stand to see whether we can't repair or refurbish what's currently there.
"It's proven that that is very challenging on a number of fronts so we've decided we're going to demolish the East Stand completely."
MacLeod said the new stand would, in response to feedback about lack of access, be designed in a way to allow more community use. It is due to be complete in two to three years.
"We want it to be designed with the key principles of opening up those facilities, so that means having changing rooms, showers, food and beverage and public toilets that can be opened up so that we can use the back fields much more easily without having to open the main stand and the big field."
He said there would be sacrifices and there would be less permanent seating in the new stand, which would allow for a larger events space to be accommodated in the building.
Plans for Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth Photo: Taranaki Regional Council / Supplied
"The new East Stand may not have the same seating capacity as the current one but it will have the ability to add temporary seating for bigger events, so if we do attract another All Blacks test we will be able to have similar seating capacity to what we have right now."
MacLeod said he did not think the new East Stand would compromise emerging plans for a $90m multi-sports venue at New Plymouth Raceway.
"What's really critical here is that we don't have a clash between these facilities. We need them to work together, so because of that there has been a governance entity set up that looks across these projects.
"Whatever gets done at Yarrows we want it to be done in synergy with the other facilities which are potentially established in New Plymouth."
MacLeod said tenders would also soon be let for the foundation work required on the West Stand, which would be preserved in its current form, and for new lighting and a re-laid pitch on the number one ground.
He was hopeful remedial work on the West Stand would be completed in time for next season's provincial rugby championship.
Sport Taranaki chief executive Michael Carr welcomed the redesign for Yarrow, but stressed it would meet a different need than the proposed multi-sports hub.
"Essentially this Yarrows plan opens up more green fields for use, which is welcome, but the detailed study of sporting needs shows key areas lacking currently in New Plymouth are flexible indoor court and movement spaces and artificial hockey turf."
Carr said that was what the multi-sport hub at the racecourse would provide.
"It's vital we make sure we avoid any duplication and make sure that the Yarrow site is designed as a space for active participation, as well as spectators."
Carr said it was exciting that both sites could combine to host tournaments and events, but it was vital that everyone continue to work together to ensure the redeveloped Yarrow Stadium was part of a strengthened network.