MEDIA RELEASE
FINAL DRAFT
For immediate release
19 November 2008
Preferred Contractor Selected To Build Otago Stadium
Leading New Zealand construction company, Hawkins Construction has been approved by the Dunedin City Council (DCC) as
the Preferred Contractor after the first stage of the process to secure a contractor to build the new, multipurpose,
fully-roofed Otago Stadium in Dunedin following a competitive selection process.
Mayor Chin said the DCC was pleased to formally approve the selection of Hawkins after consideration of reports by the
Carisbrook Stadium Trust and the Stakeholders Group.
Malcolm Farry, Chairman of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust, said the Trust was pleased to have achieved this latest
milestone in the project.
“The selection enables us to work with Hawkins as our Preferred Contractor as they put together their final construction
tender by the end of January 2009.
Subject to final negotiations and performance during the next few months, we will be moving to the second and final
stage of the process where Hawkins could be appointed as the main contractor to the project,” said Mr Farry.
“The process of selecting the Preferred Contractor has given us further confidence that the Trust’s budget for
construction of the Otago Stadium is achievable.
We will now work with Hawkins to secure tenders and prices from sub-contractors and suppliers to deliver the
construction work.
We hope that local sub-contractors and suppliers will get behind the project, be competitive and help us deliver the
project on budget.
“Once the subcontractors and supplier tender process is complete, and costings are finalised, Hawkins and the Trust will
be in a position to confirm a guaranteed maximum price for Stadium construction by the Otago Regional Council and
Dunedin City Council deadline of 2 February 2009.
“During September, the Stadium Trust advertised nationally for a preferred main contractor to manage the construction of
the Stadium.
We had registrations of interest from New Zealand’s major construction firms and a shortlist was compiled.
The shortlisted candidates provided a detailed written proposal setting out their proposed construction approach, the
team members involved, timeline and pricing including identification of opportunities for cost savings and improvements.
“Hawkins was chosen for its expertise, commercial experience, innovative approach and price competitiveness.
The Hawkins team includes experience in construction of stadia such as the 52,500-plus capacity Suncorp Stadium in
Queensland and Stadium Australia in Sydney, originally built for the 2000 Summer Olympics with a capacity of 110,000
spectators.
Hawkins is a 100 percent New Zealand-owned company.
“In the coming weeks, Hawkins and the Trust will be tendering for the various components of construction including
piling, excavation, precast concrete, structural steel, cladding and building services from subcontractors and
suppliers.
By the 17 October deadline, the Trust had received a total of 450 registrations of interest from subcontractors and
suppliers to work on the new Otago Stadium, of which 135 registrations were from South of the Waitaki,” said Mr Farry
Subject to conditions of the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Regional Council being met in February 2008 and the
successful completion of any appeals to the Plan Change, construction of the Otago Stadium is planned to start in 2009
for completion to be ready in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
More than 600 people are expected to work on the construction project.
All the land required for construction of the Stadium and realignment of State Highway 88 was purchased by the Dunedin
City Council earlier this year.
ENDS