STS website DOWN

Today the STS website www.stopthestadium.org.nz which was hosted on an independent server was taken down as that server is no longer available to the organisation. For one and a half months the STS committee had received repeated warnings that it would need to find another server but had chosen to ignore the issue. With the result there is no longer an active website.

Who will save the STS website.

RNZ National: Dougal Stevenson on stadium

### Radio New Zealand National May 31, 2009
Sunday Morning: Notes From the South

Speaking from Dunedin, Dougal Stevenson continues to wax lyrical on stadium issues.
Audio Link (duration 6′06″)

An inane moment occurs at the end when Chris Laidlaw says, “But the money is there, isn’t it?” An email reply from Rosemary McQueen setting matters straight was read out prior to the news at noon.

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### Radio New Zealand National Feb 22, 2009
Sunday Morning: Notes From the South
Dougal Stevenson on Otago Stadium
Audio Link (duration 6′00″)

ORFU and the heartfelt message

This sort of thing is rife in the volunteer sector. Few volunteers are brave enough to speak out…

### ODT Online Fri, 29 May 2009
Opinion: Your Say
Comment by Loudee on ORFU has alienated volunteers

[excerpt] We, as grassroots rugby volunteers, have spent a small fortune on the game. The “thanks” we got at end of each season was ONE single ticket to a 2nd grade game at Carisbrook. That was addressed to my husband who always threw it in the bin as it totally disregarded my input and support throughout the year.
Read more

New urban stadiums: not straight forward

In lands far away…more stadium debate, issues we share and those we don’t…

greatergreaterwashington.org Feb 18, 2009 9:03 am
How to create a successful urban stadium
by Cavan Wilk

DC United intends to build a new 24,000 seat stadium in Prince George’s County. This is a golden opportunity for our region to gain another vibrant, regional, walkable, urban, Metro-adjacent, transit-oriented development. Except on game days, stadiums have been centres of un-activity for the past sixty years. However, they don’t need to be like that and haven’t always been that way. In fact, with proper design and context, they can be major activity centres. Equally important, they can serve as anchors of vibrant neighbourhoods that generate tax revenue in perpetuity.
Read more

(Feb 18, 2009 10:59 am) In reply to the post Mike licht says: “I recall reading that the “most successful” publicly-funded stadiums return taxes at the rate of the average veterinary clinic.”

Cavan Wilk became interested in the physical layout and economic systems of modern human settlements while working on his Master’s in Financial Economics. His writing often focuses on the interactions between a place’s form, its economic systems, and the experiences of those who live in them. He lives in Wheaton, Maryland.

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The two stadium proposals before city council are about more than sports. They’re about building Ottawa…

### Ottawa Citizen April 6, 2009
Back to the beginning on a new stadium
By David Reevely

We’ve got a really strong package of reporting on the competing stadium proposals in Tuesday’s paper [see below], but here are some quick preliminary thoughts.

The [city] staff report is three quick slaps across the face for anyone who’s been getting starry-eyed about the prospects for rebuilding Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne or putting up a new soccer venue in Kanata. The Kanata stadium is by far the simpler and easier one for the city, and probably the more profitable, but it doesn’t happen to solve the city’s immediate problem … which is what to do with Lansdowne.

This ain’t gonna be cheap, no matter how much we might wish it were, and lots of cities have gotten themselves deep into trouble by pretending they can build great big things without having it hurt.
Read more

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The following story attracted 91 comments…

### Ottawa Citizen April 7, 2009
Lansdowne proposal scores higher, but council must decide if we need a stadium at all, city report says
By Jake Rupert and Patrick Dare

Monday was not a good day at city hall for two private-sector proposals for developments that include outdoor stadiums.

A much-anticipated city staff report found going with either could cost taxpayers big — $150 million over 30 years, including borrowing costs for just a stadium, and up to $300 million over the same period if extras aimed at public use are added. The numbers are higher than expected and gave sticker shock to some city council members, who must now decide what to do.
Read more

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### Ottawa Citizen April 15, 2009
Why a stadium matters
By Maria Cook

City council is poised to decide which of the two stadium proposals to endorse. Both will cost millions and affect the shape of Ottawa for decades to come. The Citizen reviews the proposals and explains why the buildings are more than just sports facilities.
Read more

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### tsn.com 4/19/2009 2:36:45 PM
The Sports Network (Canadian Television): Blogs
Suitor: What’s to debate over two Ottawa Stadium Proposals?
By Glen Suitor

It seems like the debate has gone on for months. In Ottawa, everyone and his brother have weighed in on the two stadium proposals that are currently awaiting a decision from city council. If you don’t live in the Ottawa area, I’ll outline the short versions of the two plans…
Read more

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Eugene Melnyk expresses profound disappointment in failure of Council to share his vision for a world-class open-air stadium

### OttawaSenators.com Apr 22, 2009, 6:32 PM EDT
Melnyk issues statement to City Council and citizens of Ottawa

Senators Sports & Entertainment owner Eugene Melnyk issued the following statement to City Council and the citizens of Ottawa:

“A full and proper revitalisation of Lansdowne Park and the construction of a new open-air stadium are both defining, city-building priorities for Ottawa. Both represent powerful and necessary catalysts to drive our economy, bolster civic pride and define Ottawa as a world-class city.”

We all need to keep in mind that stadiums represent a challenging business model. If it were easy, our city wouldn’t be wrestling with the stadium predicament it currently faces… Stadiums are complex businesses requiring an arsenal of very specialised expertise with an understanding of the long game.

“Today’s decisions by Council suggests its first priority is to take action and deliver meaningful steps towards an appropriate community-focused revitalisation and greening of Lansdowne Park… And while I continue to disagree with the strategic placement of a stadium at Lansdowne Park adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage designated Rideau Canal, I have too much passion for this city to stand in the way of a project that will create positive and significant change.”
Read more

Cow TV: Instigator Investigator on Stadium

The weather’s packing in, turn your heating up, watch some MooTube…

2009 Instigator 02 – Stadium
Cow TV talks to Bev Butler and Mayor Chin. Find out what the students think.
Video Link (duration 7’36”)

The story originally aired at Channel 9 on Friday 1 May.

Overt feel-good marketing

The Otago Daily Times and the Carisbrook Stadium Trust are offering readers the chance to win two prime seats for every event to be held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, in Dunedin, during the first year after its official opening (special conditions apply).

Read pages 1 and 37 in today’s print and digital editions for more information.

This is getting close ODT…

The offer follows earlier advertising by Carisbrook Stadium Trust when trying to raise private sector funding, in which the newspaper owners provided a logo – along with a bunch of other businesses – indicating support for the stadium. Editorially, this made things a trifle difficult for those trying to uphold independence of the press.

As they say, this is a small town and in it there is a microscope. As well as, now it seems, a really great prize up for grabs.

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To find out more about how you or your business can support the Forsyth Barr Stadium visit www.otagostadium.com

Council meeting – Otago Community Trust donation requirements

UPDATED
Below ODT on consents for the Awatea Street site…

Dunedin City Council meets on Tuesday 2 June 2008, Council Chamber, Municipal Chambers, at 10am.

Agenda – Council – 02/06/2009 (PDF, 16.9 kb, new window)

Note agenda item 5:
COMPLIANCE WITH OTAGO COMMUNITY TRUST DONATION REQUIREMENTS
Report from the General Manager Finance and Corporate Support (Athol Stephens).
Refer to pages 5.1 – 5.4.

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Report – Council – 02/06/2009 (PDF, 123.7 kb, new window)
Compliance with Otago Community Trust Donation Requirements

In a letter from the Otago Community Trust dated 12 February 2009, the donation towards the Otago Stadium project was confirmed at $7 million under terms and conditions. Since then, Dunedin City Council has progressively met all of those terms and conditions, except for one, which is to be dealt with at this meeting. That condition is that, “at a properly convened meeting of Dunedin City Council it was resolved to accept the donation and its attaching terms and conditions”. This report recommends acceptance of the terms and conditions in accordance with the letter of 12 February 2009.

RECOMMENDATIONS
That Dunedin City Council accepts the donation from the Otago Community Trust under the terms and conditions specified in its letter of 12 February 2009.

DISCUSSION
There remain a number of aspects of the terms of the donation which, following discussion with the Otago Community Trust, may be agreed by exchanges of correspondence, taking a reasonable approach. For example, the drawdown of instalment one is specified as the date that construction commences. Technically, construction has already commenced but it is not clear, on the face of the letter, exactly what the Otago Community Trust has in mind. The intention is to discuss that with them. Similarly, a reasonable agreement needs to be achieved on the agreed milestones for instalments two and three.

We are also required to provide information, some of which confirms material previously provided to them.

We will also need to indicate the extent to which we consider that the Appeal Court hearing represents a threat to the project and the extent to which the Regional Council hearing in the High Court on 4 June 2009 may be a threat.

Finally, the Otago Community Trust expressed a wish to have placed before them an actual resolution indicating acceptance of the donation and its terms and conditions.

CONCLUSION
The recommendation in this report gives effect to that request. Passage of that resolution will enable the Mayor to sign the Otago Community Trust’s document. That document, along with the further information required in paragraph four, will then be returned to the Otago Community Trust.

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A copy of the Otago Community Trust’s letter (12 February 2009) setting out the conditions for the grant is attached to the report. The conditions are:

* All contracts, consents, authorisations and legal approvals being in place to enable the Project to be completed;
* The Council committing to proceeding with and completing the Project;
* The stadium being built substantially in accordance with the specifications and in accordance with all legal requirements;
* The Council having the requisite jurisdictional power to proceed with the stadium.

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### ODT Online Sat, 30 May 2009
DCC set to accept $7m from trust
By David Loughrey

Asked how the council had met the condition on consents when some of those were yet to be granted, Mr Stephens said resource consent was effectively approved for the project when a hearings committee approved a district-plan change to allow a stadium zone at the Awatea St site earlier this year. Building consents had yet to be issued, but the trust was “not really worried about those”.
Read more

Highlanders board less Farry

### ODT Online Wed, 27 May 2009
Rugby: Farry not looking to get back on board
By Steve Hepburn
Malcolm Farry is not seeking re-election to the Highlanders board. Farry, who has served two terms on the board of the franchise, totalling more than five years, said his involvement with the Carisbrook Stadium Trust meant he had not been serving on the board for the past few months.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

D Scene: Demolition, Apology & Calder confused

### D Scene 27-5-09 (page 5)
Stadium site demolition
Dunedin mayor Peter Chin and Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry have officially started site demolition. Hall Bros Transport owner Doug Hall says about 16 buildings will be pulled down in total – about one a fortnight.
{story continues}

Register to read D Scene online at http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

### D Scene 27-5-09 (page 8)
The Insider: Sorry – say again?
Editor Ryan Keen interviews Cr Teresa Stevenson
Back in January when Dunedin city councillor Teresa Stevenson tipped off media about a confidential letter to the Government by Dunedin mayor Peter Chin and Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns she probably didn’t think she’d still be apologising in late May. The letter itself, which she didn’t leak but just alluded to, requested stadium funding and explored the offer of a share of the city assets in return. Since then, she’s been formally censured and asked to apologise. Mayor Chin has rejected her initial apology and asked her to have another go.
{read interview}

### D Scene 27-5-09 (page 14)
They shall not be moved
By Michelle Sutton
Otago University Students Association monthly meetings still aren’t getting the numbers despite lively motions – such as the one describing Telecom management as “wankers”. Other motions include supporting Clear Communications as much as possible, opposing and supporting construction of Otago Stadium and some pontifications on pot use.

The OUSA general meeting to be held last week did not eventuate as it failed to reach a quorum.

[Further down the item it says:]
The next motion was to be against Otago Stadium. Students Tim Calder and Luke Herlihy wanted OUSA to withhold support for construction if it contributed to fee increases or negatively affects OUSA’s ownership or control of student gym UNIPOL. Confusingly, they then called for OUSA to support construction.
{read full story}

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

ORC – illegal intent?

### ODT Online Wed, 27 May 2009
ORC denies breach claim
By Chris Morris

Claims the Otago Regional Council has breached a High Court undertaking over funding of the Forsyth Barr Stadium have been dismissed as “ridiculous”. Queenstown stadium opponent Basil Walker made the claim in a letter to High Court Justice Christine French and ORC staff yesterday, copied to the Otago Daily Times.
Read more

Road stopping: Is it an RMA process?

It’s not. Consultation on Plan Change 8 – Stadium (an RMA process) can’t touch road stopping…or can it? Or what about the process for the Notice of Requirement – Harbour Arterial Link? Some things aren’t immediately clear.

Not to put words in its mouth but Dunedin City Council seems to think that no objections raised on road stopping during the plan change process means that road stopping at the Forsyth Barr Stadium site has been fully consulted. Has it?

We raise the questions, looking at the legals helps…

Elizabeth Kerr has not threatened Dunedin City Council with a judicial review of this matter, she has put one letter raising questions about temporary road closure and road stopping to Chief Executive Jim Harland. A courteous reply was received from the council, care of General Manager Tony Avery.

It might be the matter has enough weight to effect a challenge by judicial review. Or not. Nothing more nothing less until more is known.

### ODT Online Wed, 27 May 2009
Stadium road closure challenge
By Chris Morris

The Dunedin City Council is defending its procedures after being threatened with a judicial review over rushed road closures and restricted access to the Water of Leith around the Forsyth Barr Stadium site.
Read more

Related posts

Dunedin District Plan – 27 Stadium Leith Access Area
Temporary road closures or road stopping?
Roading changes, but what of public consultation?
Adopting a moderate tone

Comments at ODT Online

Wed, 27/05/2009 – 12:39pm. Dunners on Clutching at straws

Wed, 27/05/2009 – 11:34am. mt on Why?

Wed, 27/05/2009 – 7:27pm. ro1 on Clutching at straws

Thu, 28/05/2009 – 11:36am. Razor on Road stopping

Thu, 28/05/2009 – 1:22pm. petermcd on Stadium /road closures

Thu, 28/05/2009 – 4:12pm. ro1 on The Public Works Act

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The reference to road closures in the council’s Assessment of Environmental Effects of the Spectator Events and Education Zone occurs in section 2.3 Legal Description (page 11):

“It should also be noted that there is a right-of-way easement used by the Otago Regional Council parallel to and adjoining the Water of Leith. This easement is for the purposes of maintenance of and access to this water body. In addition to the above land, parts or all of the following streets are to be closed and rezoned to be within the Spectator Events and Education Zone. Awatea Street, Leander Street, Parry Street, Magnet Street. It is also relevant to note that the Council is presently considering a Notice of Requirement to alter the alignment of the Harbour arterial, so that it follows the railway line past the stadium and into Ravensbourne Road.”

The reference is to closure and rezoning… not road stopping, per se.

The AEE report was prepared by Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd (Beca). December 2007.

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Currently, council’s (temporary) closure of the Leith Access Way has not been notified despite the physical fact of closure, which ignores District Plan requirements for access.

Health and safety laws require control of a workplace

### ODT Online Wed, 27 May 2009
Stadium stunt backfires
By Chris Morris

Department of Labour officials are less than thrilled with Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin’s handling of a mechanical excavator.
Read more

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### ODT Online Wed, 27/05/2009 – 1:50am.
Comment by anneeliot on What were they thinking?

I am utterly surprised that the carry-on by two inexperienced elderly men with a substantial piece of machinery would go unnoticed by OSH and those at Hall Bros responsible for the company’s health and safety policies. What were they thinking??

### ODT Online Wed, 27/05/2009 – 6:09am.
Comment by gplusa on There he goes again

Just when we all thought it was safe to hold our heads up in public again. We had more favourable publicity when students burnt couches in the streets. On the positive side, I can’t wait for what will happen next. Pie throwing? One of those little bicycles? Someone phone Phil Sprey, quick.

### ODT Online Wed, 27/05/2009 – 9:50am.
Comment by anneeliot on I am glad this

I am glad this ridiculous event is not going unnoticed by the Department of Labour. It is, of course, Hall Bros rather than Mr Chin who should be censured. He was just acting foolishly, while Mr McEwan is ultimately responsible.
Read more

Rates revolt: 104 out of 49,000

Yep figures are climbing fast…

### ODT Online Tue, 26 May 2009
104 ratepayers delay payment as stadium protest
By David Loughrey

The number of Dunedin ratepayers that have heeded the call to delay their rates payments in a protest against the Forsyth Barr Stadium project has risen to 104.
Read more

Chin sends assistant toppling from machine in front of gathered media

### ODT Online Tue, 26 May 2009
Demolition starts at stadium site
By Chris Morris

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin was invited to do his worst yesterday when he took control of an excavator to officially launch demolition work for the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Read more

Dunedin District Plan – 27 Stadium Leith Access Area

In the introduction to Chapter 27 Stadium of the Dunedin City District Plan the Leith Access Area is described (page 1):

The Leith Access Area is a strip of land adjoining the Water of Leith, which provides pedestrian access along the edge of the waterway access for maintenance of the waterway by the Otago Regional Council.

The sentence is not particularly well scripted.

Rule 27.5.1 (page 8) helps clarify:

Permitted Activities
(iii) Within the Leith Access Area, as shown on Plan 27.1:
(a) Pedestrian access.
(b) Construction Activities, limited to those associated with authorised maintenance of the Water of Leith.

Chapter 27 Stadium of the District Plan is now operative. This means the Leith Access Area is open for public access and authorised maintenance as a permitted activity.

However, the Area is not open, it has been closed (we will assume) to facilitate construction of the stadium.

Was resource consent for closure of the Leith Access Area processed non notified?

No public notification process was entered into by Dunedin City Council prior to the “temporary” closure.

We note, closure to (we assume) facilitate construction of the stadium is not the same as the permitted activity: “Construction Activities, limited to those associated with authorised maintenance of the Water of Leith”. Rule 27.5.1(iii)(b)

On what basis has resource consent been granted to close the Leith Access Area? On what date was consent granted?

If consent has been granted.

This would be another letter to Chief Executive Jim Harland…aren’t we busy.

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In the decision received for Plan Change 8 – Stadium (dated 8 January 2009), the independent commissioners say:

(Decision, page 26)
The changes proposed to the Plan in respect of the Water of Leith include the creation of a Leith Access Area, and the deletion of the requirement for an esplanade reserve along the northern bank of the Water of Leith (Rule 18.5.4). It is difficult to see a manner of providing for this public access along the north bank of the Leith without the inclusion of specific provisions in the Plan.
[Roger Tasker, Panel Chairman] I believe that the creation of the Leith Access Area and associated rules ensures that pedestrian access along this section of the Water of Leith will be maintained, and is superior to the esplanade reserve provisions that can only be utilised upon subdivision of the land which may not take place for some time to come, if at all.

(Decision, page 28)
[82] In terms of access along the Water of Leith, while access for such works is provided for by way of a formal easement on the certificate of title for the site, we agree with Mr Freeland that its inclusion as a permitted activity within this area of the Stadium Zone would be a more transparent method of providing for the outcome.

They act out

Channel 9 forewarned there would be an on-site media opportunity today.

The “opportunity” featured on ONE News at Midday. Luckily, hardly anyone saw it at that screening time.

### ONE News Midday Update Monday, 25 May 2009 (23:40)
Follow the link, select Chapter 2, the item is near the end of Sports coverage.
TVNZ ondemand

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Here’s the local version of said news propaganda:

### Channel 9 Online May 25, 2009 – 8:25pm
Demolition Work First Stage In Stadium Construction

With a demonstration of confidence that the Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza will go ahead, Mayor Peter Chin and Stadium Head Malcolm Farry donned hard hats and did some demolition work today.

The photo opportunity giving a strong message to the public that eleventh hour attempts to thwart the Stadium’s progress are unlikely to succeed.
Video Link

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### STS website May 25th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Comment by Ian Smith on DCC reminded of social duty

It’s happened, and every bit as stomach-churning as expected, (TV-One News, approx 12.25pm today). Those who didn’t see this unsavoury spectacle might also be interested to know that our Mayor, looked straight into the camera and assured viewers nationwide that the people of Dunedin were ‘behind’ it, as well as the nation, while his offsider sat in the cab of a wrecking-device grinning inanely at something off-camera.
Read more

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### Radio New Zealand National Monday, 25 May 2009
Checkpoint with Mary Wilson
Work to make way for Dunedin’s new stadium begins

Demolition work has begun in Dunedin to make way for the construction of the city’s new $198-million enclosed sports stadium, after more than three years of planning.
Audio Link (duration: 2′43″)

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[Simon Cunliffe] Tomorrow’s ODT “takes a tongue-in-cheek look at what happens when you put a mayor on an excavator”.

Temporary road closures or road stopping?

Dunedin City Council Notices appearing in ODT 23/5/09 (page 4):

I’ve written to Dunedin City Council Chief Executive Jim Harland seeking public clarification on the difference between “temporary road closure” and (permanent) “road stopping” of the streets named in the Notices, in regards to established council policy and relevant legislation (see Local Government Act and Public Works Act).

My letter (rightly or wrongly, in the spirit of Council’s Road Stopping Policy) requests that any proposed road closure in the stadium area, including for the purposes of facilitating construction work and or providing alternative access to the Boat Harbour Recreation Reserve and State Highway 88, be notified for full public consultation should the real effect of any “temporary road closure” be the permanent stopping of any road.

Dunedin City Council Road Stopping Policy

Highlanders: The break down

### ODT Online Sat, 23 May 2009
Rugby: Consistency key if Highlanders to improve
By Steve Hepburn

The Highlanders started slowly, built up some momentum but then finished weakly in a season which at one stage looked very promising. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back at the side’s efforts in 2009.
Read more

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### ODT Online Sat, 23 May 2009
Rugby: Thinking time for 14 unions in Air NZ Cup
By Steve Hepburn

Progress has been made on the future structure of the Air New Zealand Cup but it appears there is still plenty of work to do before any new competition is unveiled.
Read more

Roading changes, but what of public consultation?

Thanks Channel 9 and ODT. This story has been slow to emerge, not helped by a response lacking detail from one councillor visiting What if?
ODT provides a graphic showing realignment of the proposed roading.
Full public consultation on the changes looks to have suffered a detour and avoidance – why are we not surprised?

### ODT Online Sat, 23 May 2009
Redrawing the map for stadium
By Chris Morris

With Awatea St already closed for stadium construction purposes, Dunedin City Council staff yesterday confirmed nearby Leander St, running almost parallel, would be the next to close, in about two weeks. That would be followed by the closure of parts of Parry and Magnet Sts leading to the nearby railway and level crossing, expected at the beginning of July.
Read more

See post and comments at Adopting a moderate tone

Pedantry from our "very patient guy"

### ODT Online Fri, 22 May 2009
Chin awaits second attempt at apology
By Chris Morris

The silence appears to be deafening as Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin awaits a second attempt at an apology from city councillor Teresa Stevenson.
Read more

How green is the plastic lunch box?

Tremendously exciting this week to learn that Carisbrook Stadium Trust is putting up a fence and has plans to start work on piling tomorrow.

In times well past, CST posted (piled?) the following “loose talk” on its website. There have been NO UPDATES to further tempt our interest or attract educated critique of the green and sustainable building approaches being employed…

Environmentally sustainable design (ESD)

Listed below are only some of the proposed ideas which the designers are considering to ensure the building is as environmentally sustainable as possible. As the team move into the detailed design phase these options will become clearer and greater certainty will be provided

ESD options which the designers are considering include:

Harvesting rainwater, and potentially greywater, for irrigation and toilet flushing
Solar hot water heating
Increased insulation to occupied conditional spaces
Use of materials with low embodied energy and emissions where possible
Public transportation initiatives and traffic management planning to reduce car usage.
Selection of mechanical and electrical systems to conserve energy
Natural ventilation at concourse level and back of the house areas where possible
Low energy lighting internally and externally

CST Link

In the company of our What if? contacts and posters, what can we find out about CST’s ‘sustainability’ project?

Firstly, we know every premise establishing the need for the stadium project is completely faulty and vacuous. A no-go zone that’s bigger than any fence… It’s not a good start on the road to sustainability for any (ratepayer funded) capital works project to be based on errant local body politics and a consortium of privateers out for themselves. That is not sustainable. That is not ‘community’. That is not long-term regional well-being, in mind.

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OK. Small incidental questions as we build a fence…

How will site contamination be handled – what’s to test, what’s to handle? As for demolition of existing buildings… What’s happening to the asbestos? Where are the demolition materials going, will they be recycled for use? Where will any spoil from site preparation end up – recycled for use back on site or at a new location?

Literally, $millions of questions but all we have so far is the fence.

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Dunedin City Council – in the sustainability stakes, you’re responsible for leading by professional example. We’re optimists and expect this much of you…although it’s utterly doubtful you can handle the challenge in a meaningful coherent way since you opted to finance an UNSUSTAINABLE project with ratepayer funds and hastily prioritised it over a glaring lack of other ideas at council to stimulate local ‘health and wealth’.

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What does the council expect of CST in terms of sustainable building approaches… Major hindrance: the council can’t see the whole stadium concept is UNSUSTAINABLE – that’s a given. Nevertheless we’ll waste our breath, and needle this.

We expect SMART scientific approaches and best practice methods. The government’s Green Star system should be your guide, based on international practice and accreditation standards – the likes of which are evolving for New Zealand.

Because these are not the Dark Ages.

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Terrifying then – NOW – that CST is about to deliver a new stadium to Dunedin utilising an old copied idea, a hugely unsuccessful idea for regional ‘economic development’.

That is, CST is bent on stumping up with an UNSUSTAINABLE 24/7 MENACE to the people of Otago, who might never visit it or would do so only randomly and infrequently, ensuring the building has nil chance of generating revenue over expenditure into profit.

Put it this way, the proposed stadium might be the best example we’ll ever find at Dunedin of new development that takes a seriously (holistically) unenlightened approach to providing ‘Green Age’ solutions to a needy low income, sparsely populated, aging community.

You see why it’s easier to deal with the building’s ‘environmental’ sustainability (piecemeal) than the wider politics of political manipulation and institutionalised thievery (redistribution of wealth).

So green architecture / building sustainability, what do we know?

D Scene, hello – construction stopped or starting?

We read the story. Can’t answer the question.
D Scene, straighten it out please.

### D Scene 20-5-09 (page 12)
Otago Stadium: City council in no rush to have appeal heard
Demo despite wrangles
By Michelle Sutton

Asbestos is being ripped out of buildings on the Otago stadium site, while ongoing High Court wrangles threaten to stop work.
[Guess who…yep, Hall Bros]

In brief:
* Hawkins Construction to start work on piles this Friday
* StS trying to speed up High Court Appeal; DCC in no rush
* StS has lodged urgent request for appeal to be heard
* No news of costs after High Court decision
* Basil Walker has asked for withdrawal of Jim Harland’s affidavit
* ORC “can’t begin to understand” half of Walker’s questions
* ORC’s first payment towards stadium due 1 August – loan not yet secured

{see full story}

Register to read D Scene online at http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

### D Scene 20-5-09 (page 12)
Soper turns consultant

Former Carisbrook Stadium Trust chief executive Ewan Soper is working out of the office, charging an hourly consultant rate…on a “casual basis”.
{continues}

StS in hibernation?

Thought we’d seen the last, but WAIT – StS committee suddenly thinks to communicate with subscription members, and donors…

From: Stop the Stadium Announcement list
Date: 20 May 2009 3:37:33 PM
To: sts mailout
Subject: [SPAM] [sts] Stadium Update”
Reply-To: bevkiwi@hotmail.com

Dear Members

We have now arrived at the final round in our battle against the stadium ratepayer swindle. By any normal democratic standards and under any decent Council this proposition would long ago have been aborted. But these are apparently not normal times, and we are burdened by city and regional councils of unprecedented ignorance and myopia.

Central government and the Opposition have proved no more upright or enlightened than our local crew, with our three Labour MP’s shamefully silent, and Mr Woodhouse, the sole National representative, acting as a mere apologist for a government that has aided and abetted the abuse of due process and the extortion of Dunedin’s ratepayers. Only Metiria Turia, of the Green Party, has behaved with integrity and courage.

At every stage of this saga the interests and opinions of the public have been ignored, with the final insult being the DCC’s recent corruption of its own planning process, whereby hundreds of submissions, made in good faith, have been rendered void. Consideration of these submissions, insofar as they concerned the stadium, was legally mandatory if, to quote the relevant statute, the project had changed “significantly” within the last twelve months. The project, of course, has changed out of all recognition – both physically, in terms of the number of permanent seats and quality of fitout – and financially, where not only has the price-tag gone up by ten million dollars, but the promised “private funding” has all disappeared, to be replaced by ratepayer’s money. (The DCC, true to form, pretends that these enormous changes are insignificant, and that they will cause no increase in cost to the ratepayers. The DCC is lying.)

It was upon this question of vastly increased liability, of course, that STS last month sought a legal injunction aimed at compelling the Council, before making any irrevocable decisions, to adhere to its own planning rules and take note of public submissions. Yet the Council, despite its pretence of “consulting, as a moral imperative, whether legally required to or not”, decided to squander even more money in order to deny the public its rights. And, even more remarkably, a judge in Christchurch managed to support the council by concurring that “there was no significant change” from what had been presented a year ago. (The learned judge, incidentally, came to this considered conclusion after admitting that “he was unable to follow the argument” presented by STS lawyers.)

Clearly the legal system is in bad shape, and while the chances of obtaining ultimate justice from this quarter do not seem particularly auspicious, we have decided to appeal this contemptible decision. There remains the possibility, we would like to think, that at some level within the judiciary there survives a commitment to upholding the law – or at the very least to understanding the substance of a case before proceeding to issue judgment. In any event our appeal has been lodged, and in due course we shall see.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
We have been enormously heartened by the quite astonishing response to our appeal for funds to pay our legal costs. Given the gloomy fact that our injunction was dismissed there seemed little likelihood that very much money would be forthcoming – yet you, the membership, have once again demonstrated your unwavering support and generosity. We have received many hundreds of donations, large and small, and all exceedingly welcome. Our admiration is boundless, and everyone on the STS committee would like to thank you most sincerely.

RATES PROTEST
The rates protest remains very important. It will not, of course, derail the stadium, but it will keep this whole disaster alive and topical – both in the media and in the consciousness of the general public. Those who have so wilfully misled and impoverished this city must, quite soon, be held to account for their folly. The rates protest, by keeping the issue permanently in focus, will help secure the electoral defeat of the incompetents responsible. To participate in this vital action it is first necessary to cancel your direct debit – if you use this method of payment – and then to pay your rates less $66 per annum (or $16:50 per quarter). The DCC will be forced to write to you, demanding the balance, but you can safely ignore this until the end of the rating year, which falls each June. If you pay up within four months of this date there is nothing to fear – although it might be worth considering not paying at all, thereby forcing the council to take court proceedings for the recovery of a mere $66. If enough people did this the media coverage would be wonderful, with the stadium issue continually to the fore and the council portrayed as extortionists.

GETTING IN BEHIND?
There have been suggestions from various quarters that, now that the stadium is a “done deal”, we should somehow forget our opposition and “get in behind” the project. Everyone will have to make up their own minds about this, but our opinion is that if the stadium was a dumb idea a month ago it remains a dumb idea. Trying to make it “work” can only be achieved by turning a blind eye to endless ratepayer subsidies and personally paying excessive sums to attend events we would not otherwise be interested in. Why do this – merely in order to bale out the contemptible clowns responsible? We believe, to the contrary, that if this oversized tomb is actually completed it should be left to stand on the tidal flats, rotting slowly, like the statue of Ozymandias, as a monument to hick-town stupidity, arrogance, and greed.

FINALLY
Let us not forget the events of these past three years. Our elected Councils have betrayed our interests, foreclosed the real options for our city, and burdened ourselves and our children with a legacy of debt that will increase indefinitely. Let us remember the names of these people, and dismiss them – every one of them – in October, 2010.

Kind Regards
Bev Butler
President and STS committee
http://www.stopthestadium .org.nz

****

No worries, more invective. They take the liberty of defying the High Court decision by calling it “contemptible” – they’ll need to do considerably better than this in applying legal argument at the Court of Appeal. What hope.

We fear disconnection between left and right sides of the StS brain.
Indeed, what brain.

Super 15, more

### ODT Online Wed, 20 May 2009
Rugby: Conference play part of 15-team tourney
By Steve Hepburn

The Super competition will be expanded to 15 teams in 2011, will involve three conferences with more derby games, and each side will have a guaranteed eight home games.
Read more

### ODT Online Wed, 20 May 2009
Rugby: Super 14 to expand in 2011

The Super rugby season from 2011 will be expanded to 15 teams and stretched over seven months, Sanzar announced today. NZPA
Read more

Cr Stevenson cues media

### ODT Online Wed, 20 May 2009
Tale of apology that wasn’t
By David Loughrey

When is an apology not an apology? Answer: When it does not meet Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin’s requirements. Dunedin city councillor Teresa Stevenson’s apology, sent to the council last Friday, was sent back, marked “not acceptable” by Mr Chin.
Read more

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ODT has released the apology from Cr Stevenson, it reads:

“I unreservedly apologise for raising questions which brought public awareness to the content of a confidential briefing. I now understand that the councillors and the mayor sincerely and deeply wanted finance for a city project and my questioning of the mayor’s confidential letter with its suggestion to gift assets put this funding in jeopardy.

“This questioning of this confidential mayoral letter showed I was not working as part of the team for which I apologise. I am committed to work or the benefit of the city and in the future will work more constructively to achive this objective with the other elected members.”