Ōpōtiki rugby grandstand stairs removed

Ōpōtiki District Council has removed the stairs leading to the Ōpōtiki rugby grandstand in the Princess Street Reserve.

Recent inspections revealed a number of issues at the grandstand and while the ground floor (the changing rooms and toilets) can continue to be used, the upper floors needed to be closed off to the public. The most effective way to do so has been to permanently remove the stairs that access the grandstand.

Council’s Operations and Office Manager, Tina Gedson, said that the grandstand had been identified as an earthquake-prone building earlier this year. An engineering inspection was carried out to quantify the work that would be needed to get the structure to meet national earthquake standards. The inspection noted a number of earthquake-prone issues but more urgently, a number of issues where the building failed to meet current standards.

“The grandstand was moved to its current location in the 1960s and has been well-used each rugby-season since then. But the building is getting old and no longer meets current building standards in that top section. The old stairs were dangerous as well so whatever we decide to do next, those stairs would need to be demolished. Demolishing the stairs removed that danger and also stopped access to the seating areas,” Ms Gedson said.

The rugby club has been informed and will work with council and the community to develop a longer-term plan for the building and the facilities it provides.

“The closure of the top part of the grandstand brings forward the discussion council needs to have with the rugby club and wider community about how we use that space – what sort of facilities we need, what sort of facilities we can afford and what would benefit the whole community.

“Over the next few months, we’ll also get some advice from organisations like Sport BOP to bring back to councillors before the end of the year,” Ms Gedson said.