Dunedin stadium decision hangs on funding

A final decision on Dunedin's proposed stadium has been delayed again as councillors await further funding details.

After three hours behind closed doors yesterday, Dunedin city councillors voted to extend the commitment to the $188 million stadium- but with conditions.

Among them were the Otago Regional Council confirming its $37.5m contribution tomorrow, a working party finding ways to save $20m in ratepayer contributions, securing private funding of $15m, and meeting a shortfall of $3m from the Community Trust of Otago.

The council is also waiting to hear the Government's decision on its request for funding.

After the in-committee session, Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said a representative from Deputy Prime Minister Bill English's office advised that while it was up to the council to decide whether the stadium would proceed, Cabinet was willing to discuss ways of "progressing" the project.

Chin said later that it could not proceed without government funding. He would not be drawn on the amount needed.

The project has run into public opposition amid concerns about a $35m deficit, due to shortfalls in funding and higher than budgeted land costs.

When the meeting resumed in public, some councillors expressed concern about the city's economic situation.

The decision angered Stop the Stadium president Bev Butler, who warned that a rates revolt was a strong possibility.

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