The Otago Regional Council has voted 7-4 to back the proposed Awatea St stadium in Dunedin which will replace Carrisbrook.
The decision commits the Otago Regional Council to a contribution of $37.5 million towards the $188 million project. Councillors now have to discuss the details of the funding.
One of the decision will be whether or not to impose a rate for the stadium – and if so how. Rates are never popular and if people are rated on capital values farmers will pay proportionally more because their properties are worth more than the average 1/4 acre urban property.
The stadium concept is attracting vocal opposition, as these projects always do. I was a director of Waitaki District Health Services when the decision was made to build a new hospital in Oamaru, it wasn’t a popular move but people have forgotten that now it’s up and running.
At the same time there was a proposal to replace the old outdoor swimming pool with a new indoor one. It too attracted heated opposition – now some of the most vehement opponents are among the frequent users.
