Digital project tagged for funding

THE planned Dunedin Centre of Digital Excellence is among projects already tagged for a slice of the Provincial Growth Fund, it emerged on Thursday. But the project is not over the line yet, as a business case still needs to be finalised and accepted, a spokeswoman for Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones said.

A $30 million slice of the $3 billion regional fund had been set aside as a ‘‘tagged contingency’’ in documents released on Budget Day.

Among the projects earmarked to receive a slice of the contingency was the Dunedin Centre of Digital Excellence, as well as the Te Hiku Sports Hub in Kaitaia and several allweather horseracing tracks, she said.

However, there was not yet any specific allocation of funds for Dunedin’s project within the contingency, as a business case still needed to be accepted before funds could be confirmed.

Plans for the initiative were announced by thenLabour leader Andrew Little in Dunedin in February last year.

The centre, called ‘‘Code’’ and to be paid for by the PGF, would have $10 million spent on it over 10 years, to build on the city’s digital strengths.

A chair of computer gaming at the University of Otago would also be established, a gaming incubator launched and a funding pool made available to attract talent to the city.

Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said yesterday there were ‘‘a number of stages’’ still to work through, but it was hoped the business case would be submitted by the end of November.

Having the project tagged to the PGF’s contingency was ‘‘a pretty strong indication of support’’, but the focus was on ensuring the business case was ‘‘robust’’, he said.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull was also encouraged, and said success would be ‘‘a gamechanger’’ for the city.

‘‘It’s just got to be confirmed,’’ he said.