Amalgamated Builders express “shock and dismay”

September 19 2010

Amalgamated Builders express “shock and dismay” at building collapse

The directors of Amalgamated Builders Limited have expressed their “shock and dismay” that the Stadium Southland building in Invercargill collapsed yesterday (Saturday September 18) during a large snow storm.

The company built the sports facility ten years ago and directors were “devastated” to hear of the roof failure while also being hugely thankful there were no injuries to those in the building.

Invercargill-based director Bruce Middleton, who was on the scene within minutes of the incident, said the roof failure was a “complete shock” that took everyone by surprise.

“ABL is a good, solid, hugely reputable company with a fifty-year history of building in this region and throughout the South Island,” he said.

“We believe the design was done within the codes as they were understood at that time, but that’s not something we were involved with.”

Mr Middleton said it was unhelpful to speculate as to the cause of the failure until such time as full investigations have been undertaken.

He said ABL would be happy to cooperate fully with a full investigation into the incident following initial reports by engineering and insurance assessors.

ENDS

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