The future for Carisbrook?

From time to time at What if? there’s been talk about Carisbrook’s status and condition, the location, its importance to South Dunedin and the region, its national and international historical significance as a sports facility, and the future potential of the complex and the site – that we’re doubling up facilities by building another rugby stadium at Dunedin.

In 2008, Carisbrook was added to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust Register as a Category 1 historic place. The listing has caused bemusement in some circles, not the least for a number of Dunedin City Council elected representatives pushing the new stadium.

Top NZHPT billing for Dunedin landmarks
New Zealand Historic Places Trust Media Release
30 September 2008
Two prominent Dunedin landmarks – Carisbrook and the Dunedin Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute, which is located in the Octagon – have received national recognition with confirmation of their registration by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT). The NZHPT Board on September 26 approved the Category I registration status, reflecting the special or outstanding historical and cultural heritage significance and value of both places. Read more

NZHPT Register Listing – Carisbrook
Carisbrook, Dunedin’s iconic sports ground, started life as a cricket ground for the Carisbrook Cricket Club in 1874 and, for over 130 years, has been the major rugby and cricket venue for Otago and one of the most significant rugby venues in New Zealand. The ground has served as a base for cricket since 1874 and rugby since 1886. While the majority of the structures associated with Carisbrook are relatively new, as a sporting venue Carisbrook and its associated mythology has outstanding significance in the public imagination and contributes to New Zealand’s national identity. Carisbrook is one of the significant places where the provincial identity of Otago was expressed (including the tough reputation of the ground and the often inclement conditions) and ranks as one of New Zealand’s most significant provincial sporting venues. Read more

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In December 2005, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (known as the ‘MCG’ or ‘The G’), home to the Victorian Bushrangers, was added to the Australian Heritage Register, making it a heritage site. Since its inception in 1838, the Melbourne Cricket Club has regarded the preservation and display of its rich heritage collection as paramount. The showcasing of this heritage when hosting visitors and significant events at the ground has given the MCG an enviable reputation.

National Heritage Listing for MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground media release
26 December 2005
The MCG has been given Australia’s highest heritage honour – inclusion on the National Heritage List – in recognition of its outstanding significance to the nation. Announcing the listing at the MCG today during the Boxing Day Test match, the Treasurer, Peter Costello, said the Australian Heritage Council had assessed the ground as having three key heritage values. They are: 1. its contribution to Australia’s cultural history through strong social links for the sporting community; 2. its key role in the development and history of Australia’s two most popular spectator sports, cricket and Australian Rules football; and 3. its special association with sportsmen and women who have excelled there.
The MCG embodies Australia’s love of sport and its inclusion on the National Heritage List ensures its unique values will be protected for the future.
Read more

Peter Costello’s Doorstop Interview

Australian Heritage Places Inventory – Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was established in 1853 when Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe provided 10 acres of land in Yarra Park to the Melbourne Cricket Club. In the intervening 150 years the MCG has developed into one of the largest, most recognisable and modern sports stadiums in the world. The MCG has become associated with many of the finest sporting achievements of Australia’s, and many of the world’s greatest athletes. It was the site of the 1956 Olympic Games, the first in the southern hemisphere. There is a continuity of use of the MCG for domestic cricket from 1856, international cricket from 1877, and Australian Rules football since the 1880s. Spectator and playing facilities at the ground have evolved to support on-going use and contemporary standards. Of the little remaining pre-1992 fabric, approximately 30% of the wrought iron fence around the playing arena, dating from 1884, is in situ and is a significant aspect of the place. The significance of the MCG extends far beyond that of a mere sports stadium. It is an integral part of the fabric of Melbourne and the nation, and has gained an egalitarian image as ‘the people’s ground’. Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Questions about landfill charges + DCC reveals contaminated sites

Updated 24.10.09 at 12:07 p.m.

### ODT Online Sat, 24 Oct 2009
ORC moves to clean up toxic home
By Chris Morris
The Otago Regional Council could move to clean up the site of a Dunedin toxic home. Council staff returned to the Selwyn St villa, in Northeast Valley, yesterday to take up to 17 new soil samples.
Read more

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### ODT Online Fri, 16 Oct 2009
Contamination list outdated
By Chris Morris
Angry business owners have won a concession from the Otago Regional Council, which yesterday admitted its list of contaminated sites, made public earlier this week, was up to 10 years out of date.
Read more

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### ODT Online Wed, 14 Oct 2009
Allegations of conflict rejected
By Simon Hartley
Allegations of a conflict of interest and unfair financial gain have been rejected by Dunedin City Council trading company Delta Utility Services, which has completed an internal investigation after concerns were raised by a staff member. Delta is an electricity services contractor and property developer. It also has water and wastewater maintenance contracts for numerous South Island councils.
Read more

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### ODT Online Wed, 14 Oct 2009
DCC reveals contaminated hotspots
By Chris Morris
The dark histories of 30 properties in Dunedin contaminated by petrol spills, buried asbestos and industrial chemicals have been revealed by the Dunedin City Council. The city’s confirmed contamination hotspots were released to the Otago Daily Times this week, following a request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. The council is withholding details of another 194 sites.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

The dreadful laughing stock

Leading question: Could an incorporated society get it more wrong under the present leadership?

### ODT Online Wed, 14 Oct 2009
STS changes name to ‘Sort the System’
By David Loughrey

“Sort the System” has been chosen by Stop the Stadium’s committee as the new name for the organisation, part of changes to the constitution members will be asked to vote on this Sunday.
Read more if you dare

Wind it up, get it gone.

Post by Elizabeth Kerr

GOOD NEWS: University ban on alcohol promotion

Updated post

With what effects…see areas potentially affected by the ban and Lion Nathan’s concerns below. What will happen to stadium fundraising – this is the ruination of stadiumathon BBQs at University Plaza and Malcolm’s keenly anticipated student beer-and-pie lunches at the stadium. Did anyone think this through!!??

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### ODT Online Wed, 14 Oct 2009
University bans alcohol promotion
By Allison Rudd
Alcohol advertising and sponsorship have been banned from University of Otago campuses and from university-organised events, wherever they are held. The university council yesterday endorsed a recommendation from vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg, which takes effect immediately.
Read more

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### ODT Online Thu, 15 Oct 2009
Brewer seeks urgent talks on ban
By Allison Rudd
Lion Nathan wants urgent talks with the University of Otago on how its ban on alcohol advertising and sponsorship will affect two contracts already in place. [The company] was “surprised and disappointed” the university had not consulted it first.
Read more

The ban
Areas potentially affected include:

– Direct sponsorship.
– Events and conferences held on campus.
– Clothing with alcohol logos worn by students or staff.
– Posters for events off campus sponsored by alcohol companies.
– Sponsored staff functions.
– Sponsored conference programmes.
– Alcohol advertising in newspapers and magazines available on campus.
– Alcohol advertising on radio and television stations accessible on campus.
– Online alcohol advertising.
– Prizes supplied by alcohol companies for quiz nights, competitions.
– Vehicles signwritten with alcohol logos.
– Alcohol companies participating in trade exhibitions at conferences.
– Conference giveaways such as USB drives or bags with alcohol logos.

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### ODT Online Thu, 15 Oct 2009
Hazardous drinking widespread: academic
By Elspeth McLean
The level of harm being caused by the use of alcohol should concern people more than general trends about drinking, health researcher Dr Jennie Connor says. Commenting on the Ministry of Health national survey on alcohol use, released this week, Dr Connor, a senior lecturer at the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago, said the report confirmed hazardous drinking and harm resulting from drinking was widespread.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

DScene – Local body elections, David Davies & Port merger(?)

### DScene 14-10-09
Cold deck (cover page)
Several hot issues face Dunedin in the years ahead, such as the stadium project, the future of the wharves, how to deal with the city’s waste and transport issues. But councillors are playing their cards close to their chests about whether they will stand in next year’s local body elections. See pages 4-5.

Vague elections (page 3)
By Mike Houlahan, editor
A year out from the next local body elections, it is concerning many councillors are uncertain if they will stand for re-election. What next year’s ballot paper will look like is anyone’s guess. The fear is that inertia means Dunedin lacks people with vision for the future of the city – which would be a sorry state of affairs.
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Register to read DScene online at http://fairfaxmedia.newspaperdirect.com/

Candidates for 2010 elections emerging (pages 4-5)
By Michelle Sutton
Indecision has gripped Dunedin’s local body politicians, with large numbers still uncertain whether to stand in next year’s election. This week D Scene has asked the politicians currently stewarding the resources of Dunedin and Otago if they will be putting themselves up for re-election.
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Superward appealed (page 4)
Dunedin’s “superward” has been appealed by six members of the public. Appeals close tomorrow.
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Possibles and probables (page 5)
By Wilma McCorkindale
Most Otago Regional Councillors claim they haven’t given next year’s local body elections much thought and remain undecided on standing.
Standing: Sam Neill, Stephen Woodhead, Michael Deaker (tentatively), Gretchen Robertson
Undecided: Louise Croot, Stephen Cairns, Gerry Eckhoff, David Shepherd, Bryan Scott, Duncan Butcher
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No conflict found for Cairns, office says (page 6)
By Michelle Sutton
Otago regional council chairman Stephen Cairns is a shareholder of Colliers Dunedin but has no conflict of interest, the office of the Auditor-General says. The official scrutiny into Cairns’ position was sought by the ORC chairman himself. The [Auditor-General’s] letter was dated July 30, prior to concerns raised by Crs Bryan Scott and Gerry Eckhoff at an ORC meeting in August.
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The Insider: Big questions answered (page 10)
For love of the game
Welshman David Davies arrives in the city next month to manage Dunedin’s $198 million stadium. It is among other ratepayer-owned facilities he will be responsible for, as CEO of Dunedin Venues Management Ltd. Davies tells DScene of his love for rugby, why he’s backing Wales against the All Blacks at Carisbrook next year, and how he hopes to put Dunedin’s stadium on the same footing as Manchester Arena – Europe’s largest indoor arena.
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Talk: Dunedin on Dunedin: Your say
Asking about salary by Gavin McDonald (page 9)
What is the salary of Welshman David Davies, head hunted to manage the Forsyth Barr Stadium?
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Port merger discussed (page 17)
By Alan Wood
Lyttelton and Otago’s ports are in the midst of “quiet” discussions that could lead to a merger but any such argument will first face tough competition issues.
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Previous magapaper editions:

### D Scene 7-10-09
Cairns investigated (page 2)
By Michelle Sutton
Otago Regional Council chairman Stephen Cairns has been investigated by the office of the Auditor-General – at his own request. Concerns have been raised by some in Dunedin’s real estate industry about DTZ’s valuation of Carisbrook Stadium, which DCC bought as a property package from the Otago Rugby Football Union for $7 million.
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### D Scene 30-9-09
Ratepayers hold out (page 9)
More than 100 Dunedin City Council ratepayers have withheld rates payments because of the controversial stadium. DCC financial controller Maree Clarke says 71 ratepayers have withheld part of their 2008/09 payment in protest of the stadium, and so far 37 people have withheld rates payments for 2009/10.
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News Grabs (page 9)
Delta Investigation
The Ombudsman continues to investigate DScene’s complaint against Dunedin City Council-owned company Delta Utilities. Delta wants to charge about $1200 to answer questions surrounding its purchase of 100 sections at Jack’s Point, near Queenstown. Acting assistant Ombudsman John Haynes says he has requested a report from Delta chief executive Grady Cameron on the issue.

Talk: Dunedin on Dunedin: Your say (page 11)
Powers-that-be have lost the plot by NR Middendorf, St Kilda
Dunedin ratepayers have been hit with a double whammy in stadium costs.
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Council rates by Adriaan Jansen, Port Chalmers
I am disgusted with the Otago Regional Council. Last year I paid $82.70 in rates; this year $103.16. The ORC are the parasites of Dunedin. They have the gall to put the contribution to the new stadium as a capital-value based rate.
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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr