Cash pledge for Christchurch stadium
A pre-feasibility study out this week from the Christchurch Stadium Trust recommended a $496m multi-use arena with a full roof and a retractable playing field.
A National government would contribute an extra $120 million to build the new Christchurch stadium, Prime Minister Bill English has announced.
In Christchurch on Thursday, English said the funds would be in addition to the $59m spent on land for the project.
The pledge would give the project certainty, he said.
‘‘We are very proud to be supporting the multi-use arena’’, he said, adding that the type of stadium that was built was up to the Christchurch City Council.
A pre-feasibility study out this week from the Christchurch Stadium Trust recommended a $496m multi-use arena with a full roof and a retractable playing field.
It saw little opportunity for private funding for the project.
The council’s promised $253m contribution would leave a $243m shortfall, which would be reduced to $123m with National’s pledged amount. Mayor Lianne Dalziel has said central government was obliged under the cost sharing agreement with the Christchurch City Council to help fund the project. She has ruled out putting more ratepayers’ money into the project or selling assets to fund it.
Canterbury rugby boss Hamish Riach also called on the Government to put in more money.
Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern will cover Christchurch rebuild issues in a policy announcement in the city on Sunday.
Dalziel has said that building an uncovered stadium was not a viable alternative and would not work financially.
The trust’s study looked at four options, with price tags ranging from $368m to $584m.
Dalziel noted that without additional funding, the council’s share would ‘‘only cover the cost of a modest provincial venue of 17,500 seats with a 60 per cent roof coverage of the seating bowl’’.
A regional rate to bring in funds from surrounding councils was another funding option proposed by the trust.
Asked whether Environment Canterbury would consider imposing a regional rate, acting chairman Steve Lowndes said: ‘‘There has been no approach to us to do that, and I’m mindful of what Lianne has been saying in the paper, that there will be no more imposition on ratepayers in the city.’’ About 80 per cent of Environment Canterbury’s ratepayers are within Christchurch city.