ORC councillors quiet on stadium vote

Michael Deaker
Michael Deaker
Otago regional councillors are giving little away on the eve of making a decision on whether or not the council will contribute $37.5 million to Otago Stadium.

Today, the 11 councillors will meet in an extraordinary meeting to consider a report by chief executive Graeme Martin and debate the issues.

It follows the Dunedin City Council's monday meeting in which councillors voted 10-5 to proceed with the stadium subject to conditions - including confirmation of the regional council's support.

Only one of the regional councillors spoken to by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, would confirm how he would be voting.

Cr Michael Deaker said he had been consistently opposed to the project and while he could "kind of understand" why others supported it, did not see it as the right time in history for the stadium.

He thought the council would vote in favour of it, given the support it had given the project so far.

Others were not sure how their fellow councillors would vote as they had been given a lot of information in the past week.

"It's very hard to call," Cr Louise Croot said.

Most councillors, when asked how they would be voting, replied with "wait and see tomorrow".

Chairman Stephen Cairns said he had always thought the stadium was a wonderful concept, but still had reservations about its ongoing viability and was "rationalising" that still.

Cr Bryan Scott said he also had significant concerns about the viability of the project and the transparency of financial information, but his "mind was not closed" and he hoped his fellow councillors would be the same.

Cr Gerry Eckhoff, who had been vocal in his concerns about the stadium, said he was hoping for a strong debate.

"I'd like to think I have an open mind, even at the 11th hour."

Cr Sam Neill said he had come on to council pro-stadium, but was going into the meeting with an open mind.

Cr Doug Brown said, while a supporter in the past, he was keen to hear today's discussions.

 

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