Landmark celebrations for two Oamaru sports clubs will not be affected by planned ground improvements at Centennial Park.
The Waitaki District Council had already agreed to spend $90,000 to move North Otago Cricket matches from Centennial Park's main oval (No 1 ground) to the No 2 and No 3 grounds, in order to avoid fixture clashes between the North Otago representative cricket and rugby teams. Council recreation manager Erik Van der Spek said work was due to start in about 16 months' time.
No 2 ground and No 3 ground are shared by the Oamaru Cricket Club and Excelsior Rugby Club and, while the fields would be out of action for ''at least three months'' in autumn 2014, work would be timed to ensure both clubs had access to the ground for forthcoming celebrations, Mr Van der Spek said.
''Excelsior have 125th celebrations and also Oamaru Cricket have a 150th celebration as well, so the work has been timed for autumn, because that is the best time to start the grass and get it established, but also it works in well around those celebrations as well.''
As part of improvements, a second cricket wicket would be established ''across the road'' at grounds six and seven, Mr Van der Spek said.
