Alexandra’s outdoor ice rink looks more like an Olympic-sized stadium now that its new $1.6 million roof is almost complete.

The large crane dropping in the insulated roofing panels could be seen from all over town, and Calder Developments was on track to complete the project by Easter.

Your choice to listen or read the story - or both! Just click here to hear the interview from Committee chair Trevor Lawrence on todays The Outlet podcast.

Custom-made columns and lattice trusses have all been made in the company’s workshop in Tapanui and were transported to site in mid February.

The Alexandra IceInline roof committee has also forged on with its ice brick fundraiser, and local companies have started to get involved as well - donating various materials to upgrade the outside of the facility with new seating and dasher boards.

Committee chair Trevor Lawrence said one local company has donated $3000 worth of paint and equipment to freshen up the outside of the main building, and another company $10,000 in materials for the seating.

He said the new roof would be a game changer for the different clubs and codes that use the facility from May until August every year.

Craneworks dropped the insulated roof panels into place. PHOTO: The Central App

“The amount of work that you have to do to maintain an outdoor ice rink and the ice quality is enormous. And, the Central Otago weather being hot and cold and windy and rainy, keeping that ice surface usable for the patrons is a huge amount of work.”

IceInline secretary Dianne Elliot has been organising working bees for March 9, March 23 and April 6 for anyone interested in coming down to help with the painting.

“As this is still a construction site, it's not a suitable place for young children, but if your teenager can wield a paint roller, they would be welcome,” she said.

More about the facility in this week’s The Outlet podcast.