Mainzeal ‘shortcuts’ blamed for Baywave’s up to $4 million repair bill

Failed construction company Mainzeal built the Mount Maunganui aquatic centre now in need of up to $4.1 million in urgent repairs.

Cracking walls and a leaking roof are among the structural issues found in the 13-year-old Baywave TECT Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

Yesterday Tauranga City Council approved funding of $2.01m for the most urgent repairs, in order to have them done before the AIMS Games in September.

The councillors also signed off in principle another $2m in contingency funding – with conditions – in case more serious problems were uncovered, a risk identified by engineers.

Gary Dawson, chief executive of Bay Venues, the council-controlled operation that manages Baywave, told councillors the building was “in bad shape” for its young age.

“We have a lot of cracks … there are weather-tightness issues. The roof is partially leaking, the windows are leaking. There is corrosion in a number of areas.”

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