OK, state of play?

I’ll try to lay it out for you, but the crux of the matter, despite the sustained efforts of the StS and councillors opposing the development, Council today decided to continue with the project, voting 10-5. This is more or less the green light (read Peter E’s cautions below and media confusion), although as you learn in life nothing is determined until the first people go through the turnstiles of the first event at the stadium.

A pleasant afternoon with Council

Quite SPLENDID – couldn’t hear or see everything but I think Councillors were bent on the exercise to slip a “self-congratulatory” expensive project through. Who cares about the cost.* Spend up large.

*Oops. That’s right we don’t know how to pay for it all – or what it will cost to build or operate it. F*** it. Spend up large.

That Horwath HTL and PricewaterhouseCoopers mention significant key risk factors and uncertainty in their reports. “What do they know.” Spend up large.

“This is the most polluted site out.” (Butcher) Fumes from Ravensdown. Site contamination. Got that. Covered! Spend up large.

We don’t want to see Dunedin as “a museum of modern plumbing”. (Walls) Yep. Spend up large.

“We are the sons of the pioneers.” (Collins) Men, rugger men are All. Give them presents. Spend up large.

“It’s affordable.” (Walls) Leave maths out of it. Spend up large.

“Is there a plan B?” (Collins) Forget it. Spend up large.

“I don’t accept private sector funding has been achieved at all.” (Cull) Shut up, shut up Dave. “There’s a real double-negative risk!” What. Don’t worry, son. Spend up, enormously large.

“Is this the right project…to boost the economy?” (Stevenson) Who. “We’re looking in the wrong place.” Who, again? Spend up large.

“Teresa is right. We haven’t been able to find other projects.” (Hudson) Hello Councillor. Seen the LTCCP anywhere. Spend up large.

“It hasn’t got Cr Guest’s wow factor.” (Wilson) Feel guilty later. Just spend up large.

“[Opponents] are guilty of creative negativity!” (Guest) “It will be a wonderful 100-year project.” Quick. Spend up large.

“The timing is all wrong…we’ve got no choice but to say no in the current economic conditions.” (Staynes) On your bike, Chris. Spend up large.

“There’s no right or wrong time to do 100-year assets…my concern is…we should spread the cost of the stadium over a longer period.” (Brown) Say it. No, say it. “Intergenerational equity.” Don’t pay now, pass it on! Spend up large.

“We have the headroom.” (Earth to Bezett) Not denied. Spend up large.

“South of the Waitaki there’s a united front.” (Noone) What. A fire sale. My god. Spend up large.

“We should take $20m out of DCHL.” (Hudson) Know your place, Athol. “Let the directors decide what’s possible.” Spend up large.

[Red Alert] “Patience is running out…” (Chief Executive)

“We’ve accepted more debt, more underwriting.” (Cull) Really mean it, shut up Dave. Or else. Spend up large.

“Crs Staynes, Cull, Wilson…it’s a political hijack.” (Bezett) Listen to us. We know best. Spend up large.

It’s what we do.

[author: Elizabeth]

Govt Funding – Latest!

“The Government has phoned Dunedin mayor Peter Chin today indicating it is prepared to discuss supporting the proposed new stadium but has warned money for new projects is tight.

Councillors spent the morning in closed session at today’s crunch stadium meeeting.

The meeting took a surprise twist when it finally resumed at 2.40pm, with Mayor Peter Chin revealing details of a phone call he received from Deputy Prime Minister Bill English’s office at the conclusion of the earlier private deliberations.

Mr English’s private secretary was able to confirm that the Cabinet was prepared to discuss issues surrounding pursuing the stadium, but that Government funds were under “heavy demand” and any project would have to stack up against others of similar merit, Mr Chin said.

The cabinet was not prepared to go further at this stage, and the official acknowledged the final decision on whether to build the stadium remained with the council, Mr Chin said.

Mayor Peter Chin gave the public gallery of about 20 people a quick update before the meeting resumed.”

Link ODT

Update: live at meeting. I have no idea what the he’ll is going on, a councilor is supporting the stadium. Questions from Mayor.

Classic sitting in amongst what is essentially the enemy (Bev’s just had a sly fag).

It’s all very procedural and again I’ll bow to Elizabeth’s knowledge of what was going on etc. Popping in after work unfortunately is doing this a disservice but what can you do.

Not wanting to be rude, this is just an observation, is anyone here under 40?

Am I allowed to take photos?

StS gallery all a tizz over some suggestion that funding comes from holding company loan. This is funny, the gallery is a little angry and the small talk is funny.

What’s with rates rebate suggestion?

Finally got to meet Elizabeth, fantastic. Glad she’s finding this as dry as I am.

Most people have left now they are just talking annual plan. Bev got her time on front of the TV cameras again.

Actually only Elizabeth,Nicola Holman and myself left. Of course Nicola had laptop and will be interesting to read her number crunching.

Cr Guest & Bezet and others all debating funding and annual plans. Bless these people for actually undertaking public office, this is a pretty thankless task.

I’m guessing that some of these Councillors are not on each others Christmas Card lists. Cr Wilson is not a happy chappie.

They’ve moved something and it’s got Cr Wilson angry as heck. This council needs someone with institutional knowledge like Rodney Hide, there’s much confusion as to who what why or how a resolution may or may not have been suggested.

Misdirected Anger?

“People are hungry, we’re losing our jobs,” a man yelled out, before referring to councillors as poodles”

From the ODT, who were of course looking for anything resembling tension at today’s meeting. Link

Of course this has nothing to do with the stadium, but why let that get in the way of a good yell.