North Harbour Stadium remains the logical option for a national stadium to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup, says Enterprise North Shore Trust Chairman, Ian Watson. This is in light of the government’s announcement on Friday, indicating a preference for a new Waterfront Stadium.
“When one considers the economic importance of the Rugby World Cup and then looks at the extraordinary levels of uncertainty over the availability of land on the Waterfront, the cost of reinforcing the area, the extreme difficulty and the complexity of the design and build, let alone the technical requirements for an adequate playing surface, it is hard to see why Government has plumped for the Waterfront. We encourage Government and Auckland to think again about the potential of the multi-use North Harbour Stadium as host of the Rugby World Cup,” says Ian Watson.
Sitting on 28 hectares of land, North Harbour Stadium in Albany is built and zoned for expansion, making it a low risk and cost effective option. It will cost $226 million to increase its capacity to 60,000, including corporate box and VIP requirements. North Harbour Stadium has the benefit of two major roading investments by the Government. The Northern busway will be completed next year and the southern and western motorway extensions mean that spectators travelling to an event at North Harbour Stadium from the south, the airport or western suburbs have a second motorway option.
“Plans are being implemented for major retail, hospitality and business expansion that encircle the Stadium and other sports facilities”, explains Mr Watson. “North Harbour Stadium has the resource consents it requires for expansion – it doesn’t require Government to overrule its own resource management regulations, nor does it need to buy new land. It doesn’t require the facilitative and consultative approach that normally would be expected for development of a brand new stadium in the CBD. All this work has been done. North Harbour will deliver a fantastic Rugby World Cup.”
North Harbour Stadium regularly hosts international events for football, rugby league and rugby union, on behalf of FIFA, ARL and NRL teams, NZRL and the NZRFU. Its rectangular field makes it extremely popular with spectators, who are only metres from the playing surface. It regularly wins the right to host large outdoor music events – from Pavarotti’s Farewell tour, to pop and rock concerts as well as extreme motor sports. Its function facilities are the busiest of its type in New Zealand.
“It all comes down to economics and meeting the criteria of a sustainable stadium and function facility, anticipated within the Government and the NZRFU’s bid to the IRB to host the Rugby World Cup. The North Harbour Stadium proposal is the least expensive Auckland option and has minimal obstacles for resource consent in its way. For these reasons alone, North Harbour Stadium should be the Government’s and Auckland’s first choice to meet the obligations New Zealand accepted to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.”
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MEDIA RELEASE
Statement from David Thornton
North Harbour – the undeniable case for new stadium for Rugby World Cup and beyond.
And without the risk of needing ratepayer funding.
And North Harbour is listed by Government as ‘fall back’ option to Eden Park.
With the Waterfront option now becoming increasing unacceptable the attention will swing back to Eden Park.
But the arguments against Eden Park - which prompted the investigation into the waterfront option - remain firmly in place.
- It is limited in terms of usage compared to either Waterfront or North Harbour
- It has severe congestion potential – and the $43 million proposed for rail access upgrade will not alter that to any great degree
- It will require substantial ratepayer funding
- Auckland could be tied up forever in arguments between Auckland City Council which wants to be top dog in the region – and the ARC, which also wants to be top dog,
Ministers Mallard and Cullen appear to have said if ‘Auckland’ cannot agree on either Waterfront or Eden Park the main stadium for RWC 2011 will be Jade Stadium Christchurch.
However his review team in fact nominated North Harbour as a ‘fall back’ option. This is revealed in the ‘Stadium Comparison’ paper released last Friday.
With no Waterfront, North Harbour becomes the option to Eden Park.
North Harbour has none of these problems.
- North Harbour has no insurmountable Resource Management problems – mainly amending current consents so increase seating limits from 45,000 to 60,000.
- North Harbour has excellent bus and traffic access – including busway from the south, the first section of Western Ring Route will have been completed, northern motorway will be open from Puhoi. And plenty of parking.
No train – but, over time, the new busway has been designed for conversion to light rail.
- Bus transport is 12 minutes to Britomart and Viaduct. [Closer than Homebush to Darling Harbour by train]
- No residential neighbours – in the centre of a developing commercial centre which may have some mixed limited residential/commercial in one area.
- Unfettered access during construction. Available for 7 days a week construction.
- Cheapest to build at approx $250million.
- Govt has $200 million available for waterfront option which should be transferred to North Harbour.
- This means the balance could be raised without rates or other taxes.
Only possible drawback – pro- waterfront people claim their site has restaurants or hotels immediately available..
Just look at Stadium Australia and at newly expanded Twickenham.
How far are they from hotels and restaurants?
ENDS
[NOTE. David Thornton is a former - North Shore City Councillor, Glenfield Community Board Member, member of Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee]
