Dunedin city councillor Kate Wilson has joined fellow Greater Dunedin councillor Dave Cull in questioning the future of the Awatea St stadium in a time of job losses.
Cr Cull last week used the demise of Fisher and Paykel's manufacturing plant in Mosgiel to launch an attack on the stadium, and claimed a grim economic and employment future for the city.
But both councillors said on Friday there was little they could do to stop the project, apart from continuing to argue their point.
Cr Cull said two ‘‘hurdles'' for the project - land acquisition and the Carisbrook Stadium Trust's task of finding enough private sector funding - were points along the way councillors might vote to stop the stadium.
But as long as land acquisition came in under budget on the April 28 deadline for the work to be completed, he expected the council would vote to continue the project.
Cr Wilson said all she could do was continue arguing against the stadium and getting others to agree with her thinking.
She said on Friday the council should look at ‘‘the burden we put on the commercial and industrial sector for social and cultural aspects of the city while we invest very little into economic development''.
She said libraries were very important, but questioned whether rates funding should be more than twice as much for libraries than economic development and marketing combined.
‘‘Economic development, the visitor centre, Dunedin Centre running costs only and Tourism Dunedin have $5,221,700 due to be spent on them this coming year from rates contributions".
‘‘Libraries, Otago Settlers Museum and Otago Museum contributions are $14,741,900".
‘‘While I appreciate assets, especially the museum, do add to the economic benefit of the city, is this really the sort of balance we want and need?''
Asked if she would prefer less money for libraries and more for development, Cr Wilson said a debate on the subject was needed, although she realised people ‘‘love libraries''. ‘‘Maybe gardens could be cut back.''
She said the stadium ‘‘debate or debacle'' was an example of inept planning and strategic decision-making by the council.
‘‘It is time we, the city leaders took some responsibility and put some effort into assisting other companies finding times difficult.''
Asked how that could be done she gave as an example putting money into a harbour ferry which could provide spin-offs to tourism businesses.
