Asbestos-covered irrigation piping dating back to the '70s is being removed from Canberra, Australia's Manuka Oval athletic stadium, according to Lee Gaskin of the CANBERRA TIMES. Heavy machinery took to the venue "to begin the resurfacing process, the first time since the ground's initial construction" in '24. Economic Development Directorate Dir General David Dawes said that "all necessary steps had been followed to ensure the safe removal of the pipes." With "all going to plan," the ground will "be ready for the annual Prime Minister XI cricket match against England" on Jan. 14. Capacity "will be boosted from 13,500 to more than 15,500 and will increase the chances" of Canberra hosting games in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. This stage of the redevelopment is part of a long-term A$35M ($32M) investment into Manuka Oval "expected to be finished by the end of the decade, by which time the ground will be able to take 19,000 people." Manuka Oval will also host four GWS Giants games a year -- three of which will be part of the AFL Premiership season -- until '21 (CANBERRA TIMES, 7/11).
