The Eden Park Redevelopment Board has announced the provisional appointment of Fletcher Construction as the preferred contractor for the construction of Eden Park for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Board chairman John Waller says as a Kiwi firm, Fletchers has been associated with some of the most iconic developments in New Zealand’s history, including Te Papa and the Sky Tower.
“The redevelopment of Eden Park for one of the world’s major sporting events is a fitting addition to their construction pedigree.”
Mr Waller says the appointment of Fletchers was being made several weeks ahead of schedule which provided them with an early opportunity to participate with the project team in the remaining three design stages of the park prior to demolition and construction commencing in August and November 2008 respectively.
“The Redevelopment Board’s strategy from the outset has been to mitigate construction cost and other risks by bringing the main contractor on board early in the design process,” Mr Waller says.
“The procurement process is one that has been adopted on many high profile and large scale construction projects in New Zealand in recent years.”
Mr Waller noted that, while there had been a misconception in recent times that the redevelopment faced a difficult time for completion, the project was still on schedule.
“The reality is that construction for this project is not scheduled to begin until August 2008, and the two-year build period provides sufficient scope to complete the project well ahead of the opening of the Rugby World Cup in September 2011.”
He acknowledged that the Board has had to compete for construction resource in an extremely “hot” market.
However, he said Fletchers’ desire to be involved with the project, not to mention its unrivalled ability to secure resources in the construction supply chain, reinforces the fact that this is a project that is eminently achievable, and that all involved are committed to completing it on time and on budget.”
Mr Waller says the two other construction companies that had been short-listed for the project had, after initially submitting detailed expressions of interest, chosen to withdraw from the tender because of competing opportunities in the industry.
“The Eden Park project has gone out to tender at the same time as equally large construction contracts, and the other companies have obviously chosen to pursue opportunities which best fit their experience, resources and skills.”
