Cullen wary of waterfront option

I think we are seeing a small but significant gap between the PM and Dr Cullen on the waterfront stadium. Dr Cullen was reported yesterday as saying Eden Park is a safer option, and he is in the NZ Herald today warning the $500 million price tag for the waterfront stadium will rise.

Listening to debate yesterday, it really does seem a pity Carlaw Park is not an option – I would rate that the preferred venue. The problem is that this has all been left so late, decision making is rushed, and by its nature almost automatically flawed. It’s ridiculous to be asking Auckland local authorities to vote on a preferred venue, when they don’t even have a specific location on the waterfront agreed to. Plus no testing of sites as to whether they are stable enough.

There really should be hard questions asked of those behind the RWC bid (which is both Govt and NZRFU) why options such as a new stadium, Carlaw Park etc were not fully and properly investigated as part of the bid. It’s pretty Mickey Mouse to win the bid using Eden Park, and then at the last minute have a change of mind and decide to develop a new stadium from scratch without any engineering reports, market research for long-term sustainability, consultation with residents etc etc.

I am not against a waterfront stadium per se, but am very much against the way this proposal is being decided and railroaded through.