Ballarat firm wins contract to build new Eureka Stadium Monday, 18 July 2016

Nicholson Construction, a Ballarat firm based a stone's throw from the city's planned new Eureka Stadium, has won the contract to build the facility.

The ground will offer more than 5,000 undercover seats and a total capacity of more than 11,000 spectators.

The project will also include upgrading change rooms and match-day facilities to AFL standard; upgrading stadium seating, providing public shelters, toilets for all-abilities access, catering and food beverage facilities and ticketing infrastructure; and improving lighting around the main oval and providing a video and electronic scoreboard.

Nicholson Construction was founded in 1889 and last year was recognised as Regional Commercial Builder of the Year by the Master Builders Association of Victoria. Recent projects have included the Ballarat Community Health Facility and the Federation University Metal Trades facility.

Construction of Eureka Stadium is slated for completion in time for the beginning of the 2017 AFL season with the Western Bulldogs hoping to play their first game there next season.

The project is expected to create 38 construction jobs, attract an extra 1500 participants per year, draw another 21,000 visitors to Ballarat each year and increase annual tourism spending in the city by up to $3.6 million.

"Council is very pleased that Ballarat's own Nicholson Construction has been awarded the $14 million contract to build our Eureka Stadium, adding new jobs and keeping this significant State Government investment in our local economy," said Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson.

Victorian Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford, described it as a major win for grassroots sporting clubs in Ballarat.

"By investing in these upgrades we are giving the entire community the facilities to succeed both on and off the field,” she said.

[Artist's impression of the rebuilt Eureka Stadium. Image: Peddle Thorp Architects]

Infrastructure will be a major topic of discussion at the Australian Engineering Conference 2016 in Brisbane on November 23-25.