Australian firm wants tie-ups to build sports infrastructure

An Australian firm is exploring partnerships with various State Governments and sports bodies in India to build integrated sports infrastructure.

Consultant architects Robertson and Marks, whose flagship sports planning projects include the operation and maintenance of the Sydney Cricket Ground and the 2000 Olympic stadium in Sydney, are looking for tie-ups with local partners for design and technology transfer, firm’s representative Brian Mann told The Hindu in Chennai. “A build and operate model is one of the options being explored, wherein we control the logistic, creative and cost aspects of the project,” he said. The firm expected to roll out the first working model by 2008.

Mr. Mann said environment-friendly features would be given priority in the proposed infrastructure. Water recycling and energy conservation utilities would be integral to the projects.

The integrated sports stadiums could serve diverse action, ranging from football matches to rock concerts. “The governing philosophy is to maximise the utilisation of physical infrastructure. This opens up alternative revenue streams and ensures that a ground does not lie idle.”

The firm will extend a package of architectural solutions to governments and sports agencies, the company spokesman said. Besides sports stadiums and cricket academies, other focused plans involved multiplex venues, residential, retail and commercial structures in India. It was also proposed to establish centres of excellence in architecture and design in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chennai.

The sports planning proposals coincides with the company’s plans of turning up its profile across India over a series of design and building initiatives. Some of its ongoing projects involve master-planning parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Robertson and Marks is one of the Australian companies in the minds of Australian Trade Commission officials in Chennai who would like to facilitate a series of joint ventures across diverse businesses.

“We are keen to assist Australian companies that aim at bringing into India their unique expertise,” said Mohamed Adil, Business Development Manager of the Commission, here.Source: thehindu