Surrey Park's 60-year-old grandstand is in line for a facelift with earthquake strengthening scheduled to begin this month (Nov).

The grandstand is regularly used by a various sporting organisations including Athletics Southland and the Waihōpai AFC Football Club.

The facility was originally to demolished and replaced with a new $1.5 million building, as per Invercargill City Council’s 2021 Long-term Plan, however the project was adapted to keep the project within budget.

The amended project will bring the existing grandstand up to 34 percent of earthquake standards.

Council Manager for Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain said the upgrade would ensure the grandstand met user safety requirements, and was retained as a regional asset for the

community.

“The grandstand at Surrey Park is an important asset, not just for our city’s athletics and football communities, but for the people of Invercargill and Southland,” she said.

“Southland has a rich sporting history, which has been rightly celebrated by our province numerous times in the past.

The upgrade of the Surrey Park grandstand will ensure this asset continues to be enjoyed by future generations – and, no doubt, will be the place where members of our community can cheer on Southland’s sporting talents of tomorrow.”

Site establishment was scheduled to begin in mid-November, with work to strengthen the grandstand to building code requirements set to commence soon after.

Work would also include a new roof, and other improvements, Rain said.

Work will be undertaken by by Amalgamated Builders Ltd with the redevelopment expected to be completed by May 2025.

The grandstand would be closed during construction, Rain said.

“It’s a really positive outcome, and we are looking forward to seeing the Surrey Park Grandstand continued to be enjoyed in the future.”