Board chairman Keith McFadyen and Mr Keith are concerned about drainage issues on the pitch as well as a general lack of upkeep of the surrounding facilities.
"The field itself is just a bog," Mr Keith said.
Standing water on the field attracted birds which created health and safety issues for players, he believed.
Last season, four premier rugby matches, including a semifinal, could not be played on the pitch because of flooding.
This year, the premier teams were playing on an undersized sloped field because it was in slightly better condition than the full-sized pitch.
"All we want to do is be able to play rugby out there," he said.
Work began on upgrading the drainage system four weeks ago, but Mr Keith was "disappointed they have left it this late".
"[It] is a quick fix really to try to get us back on the paddock, but it's a quick fix too late."
The rugby club was under threat because it relied on bar takings to survive and if games were not played in Brighton, the bar was not used, Mr Keith said.
Ideally, he would like a full drainage system to be installed and said the field needed to be levelled, drained and resown.
Mr McFadyen said the community viewed the domain as "a bit of an eyesore" in serious need of "beautification".
"We've been asking questions of what the domain's management plan is, but we have no idea where it fits in," he said.
Other grounds - Montecillo and Kaikorai - had undergone upgrades recently, but they were not as versatile as the Brighton Domain which was used for rugby, cricket, community events and by the neighbouring primary school.
"The longer this is out of action ... the more people will look for alternatives," he said.
Mr McFadyen was also aware the area would be well visited by tourists and freedom campers during and after the Rugby World Cup.
The board's annual plan submission said the domain suffered from "embarrassing upkeep" and Brighton residents were "concerned and angry about the condition of the fields".
Dunedin City Council parks and reserves team leader Martin Thompson said an "extremely wet summer" which continued into winter left the fields boggier than usual. The council had hoped to carry out drainage work months ago, but regular rain inhibited it, Mr Thompson said.
A growing problem of standing water and a gap in the rugby season prompted "minor drainage work to drain a fairly boggy area" and the drilling of soak holes to begin about three weeks ago.
The domain did not have a full field-drainage system and no funding or plans were in place to install one. A drainage system could cost at least $60,000, Mr Thompson said.
Drainage at the domain had been a problem "on and off over the years" and the rugby club had increased its numbers, resulting in more use.
The soak hole work was nearly complete and "has had an effect".
Drain lines had been installed at the end of the field.
"Without the full field-drainage system, it will take a long time to drain."
Along with the drainage, Mr Thompson said the playground was on the council's upgrade plan and the roadway was recently regraded.
Mr McFadyen hoped the council would put a full upgrade on its long-term community plan and Mr Keith simply believed "they have dropped the ball on this".
