February 19, 2007

Temp/Permanent option neither fish nor fowl

Today’s announcement that the government will fund a ‘blended’ temporary / permanent upgrade for Eden park for the hosting of the 2011 Rugby World Cup final looks to be a case of trying to please everyone but pleasing no one.

Die hard rugby supporters are bound to be disappointed that a full commitment hasn’t been made to a $320+ million national stadium.

Those looking for a cheaper temporary option that would leave open the door for the later development of a high quality multi-use national stadium will also bemoan the fact that such a plan will go on the back burner.

At $175+ million the cost of this half-way step is likely to preclude, or at the very least, delay any such development for a generation.

All the time we talk about wanting to be an international destination but time and time again we amble down the route of ho hum local options.

We already have suburban stadium offerings at North Harbour and Mt Smart and here we are offering a ‘tart up’ while at the same time locking in of all the original short falls in terms of fragmented transport infrastructure and the limitations that go hand in hand with a location in a residential environment.

New Zealand is a small international economy and has a limited number of opportunities to compete on that stage. When these opportunities present themselves we need to offer up smart options.

Just as most other bid countries do, we saw the RWC as a catalyst for some significant economic infrastructure to be built. While we are obviously grateful that this plan cements our hosting rights, we can’t help but wonder if we haven’t let this generation of rugby supporters down while also strengthening up our events tourism offering by making ‘elbow space’ downstream for a multi-use facility that could even go as far as underpinning a future Commonwealth Games bid.

Its about ambition for this great little South Pacific country and playing it smart. We can only hope that our All Blacks, and America’s Cup sailors and netballers have smarter game plans.

Attribute to Alex Swney, Auckland, Heart of the City

Ends

Heart of the City
Geographically Heart of the City stretches along the central and west CBD waterfront and covers the whole CBD core. The organisation has
a broad membership of over 5,000 businesses but its constituency is larger. Working for the people who live, work and play in the city,
Heart of the City supports activities in the CBD designed to make it a more attractive destination for regional, national and international visitors. Heart of the City’s commitments and activities include:

- providing over $100m additional rate income to the city council to improve the CBD;
- working in partnership with councils: example - the free City Circuit hybrid electric bus service;
- bringing special events to Auckland: examples - the Cow Parade, Jafacabs and Coexistence;
- financially supporting major events: examples – NZ Fashion Week, the Santa Parade; and
actively contributing views to council with the intention of improving the city for all Aucklanders.

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