Surrey Park Grandstand Reopens After Upgrade

Surrey Park Grandstand is officially back in action after eight months of structural upgrades, ensuring it can continue to serve the Invercargill and wider Southland sporting community.

Councillors, Council staff, and local club representatives gathered on Thursday to mark the reopening of the 60-year-old facility. The upgrade focused on earthquake strengthening and bringing the building up to modern code as part of Invercargill City Council’s Long-term Plan.

Invercargill City Council Manager Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain said the grandstand was a valuable regional asset. “The future is looking bright for local athletics and community sports as this project crosses the finish line,” she said. “I’m proud to see the grandstand brought back up to a standard where it can continue to be enjoyed by the people of Invercargill and Southland for years to come.”

Built in 1964, the grandstand had developed structural issues, including corrosion and unreinforced masonry, which posed an earthquake risk. Originally, the Council considered demolishing the structure and replacing it, but community consultation and budget constraints shifted the focus toward refurbishment.

Council committed $1.8 million to the upgrade, choosing to restore rather than rebuild. Rain said this decision allowed the Council to deliver the project within the allocated budget while preserving a key community facility. “Repairing the old grandstand meant we could complete the project with the money we had while retaining this important community facility.”

The grandstand is home to Waihōpai Football Club and Athletics Southland clubrooms. Its presence is essential for hosting national events, including the Colgate Games and Interprovincial Games.

Rain noted that the project’s completion would allow Surrey Park to operate at full capacity again and align with other recent improvements in the area, such as upgraded softball diamonds and a new pavilion. “We are thankful for the smooth execution of this project by the contractor, ABL Invercargill, and the patience of the lease holding clubs, who can once again use Surrey Park to its full potential.”