Dunedin's never-ending stadium debate 

Source: ONE NewsProtesters march against Dunedin's proposed new stadium

Dunedin's a city built on a unique character.

With some of the prettiest and also some of the scungiest buildings (think third-world student flats) in the country, the city has a fascinating personality about it.

For decades, Dunedin's Carisbrook stadium, the House of Pain, has been the home of sport in the South.

But its days as a major venue look to be numbered. For the last few years, Dunedin's been missing out on major sporting events. It hasn't hosted as many events as in previous years, and some Southerners believe Carisbrook is a bit out of date.

Their solution to the problem has been to look at building a brand new stadium.

With a roof, seating for 30,000 people and a price tag of $188 million, the stadium really divides the locals. The council supports the idea and has pumped millions into the project, but some ratepayers say their money is being wasted. They don't want a new stadium and they certainly don't want an increase in their rates to pay for it.

The debate seems to have dragged on for yonks. It was 2004 when a working party was first established to look at the problems with Carisbrook.

But, with various conditions, the trust backing the new stadium has slowly gained the support of the local councils, who will make their final stadium decision soon. If it goes ahead and construction progress stays on track (that could be a first!), the last lick of paint should be on Forsyth Barr Stadium by 2011.

But even if it does get the final green light, opponents won't end their fight.

At a protest through Dunedin's central city , stadium opposers threatened the council with more than just bagpipes, slogans and banners. A guy walked up to the City Council building, and nailed a rates revolt declaration to the front door. (Can you do that?? I can't imagine anyone likes having stuff nailed to their door!) If the council ticks the boxes and construction begins, opponents say they will delay paying their rates to the council as a form of retaliation.

Five years in... I reckon the fiery Dunedin stadium debate still has years to burn.

What do you think about the proposed new stadium in Dunedin? Share your view on the messageboard below.

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deltic ; 2009-06-14 @ 15:49 NZDT  

And people say trainspotters are sad, here we have a cult that loves stadiums, great dreary columns of glass and steel. And to think of all the exciting, things you could do with $200plus mill, that would bring in more visitors to a heritage town, of which currrently numbers are dropping, nothing is being added, not now with this sucker forced on us. Mediocrity rules and costs dearly.

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deltic ; 2009-05-05 @ 21:46 NZDT  

The $1.34 price is all spin, 200 million, add on 51 spent so far trying to con, plus just a few years ago millions spent on Carisbrook, 9 year old state of the art buildings to be bowled. Plus the purchase of Carisbrrok , add another 5 mill. Any worthy project gets refused for a drop in the bucket amount. Anyway, if every fringe cause like this wanted $1.34, we'd have a huge bite on our rates. It's a matter of principle.

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deltic ; 2009-05-05 @ 21:41 NZDT  

So, suddenly, we are expecting, the likes of Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Cold Play are suddenly going to make for Dunedin? To fill the stadium, due to population, they'd have to by pass CHCh and try encourage all the punters to come down here. Even if we got one concert a year, its a laugh against the price. The concept of boarding a transportation device like a bus or aeroplane hasn't bothered me so far. the big act orgnaisers said no anyway, they know it wouldnt pay!

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hallum11 ; 2009-05-02 @ 13:50 NZDT  

Max! Good work man! agree with every word of it! Forwarded to dad this morning, he likes your thinking! Reece

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deltic ; 2009-04-29 @ 23:27 NZDT  

Ps, it might just be a little fatuous that the 'silent majority' didnt get counted because they 'decided not' to sned back the survey. Such is the rhetoric of the pro-stadium cult. Get real!

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