Town Hall "No Stadium" Meeting

When was the Dunedin Town Hall last full for a political meeting?. I am sure it was a long time ago.
Six excellent excellent speeches from well-respected citizens expressing their concerns about the Stadium project, chaired by broadcaster Dougal Stevenson:

• Dunedin ex-Mayor, Sukhi Turner

• Alistair Broad, who worked with the legendary entrepreneur Howard Paterson

• Otago Regional Councillor, and ex-MP, Gerry Eckhoff

• Dr Robert Hamlin of the University of Otago School of Business

• Natural History NZ Chief Executive, Michael Stedman

• Dunedin City Councillor, Dave Cull

Themes were the risk of the "Guaranteed Maximum Price" contract, the reliance on Rugby which is in decline, and the unaffordability in these uncertain times.
I have no doubt that the greater majority of Dunedin people oppose the project. Dave Cull would be elected mayor, if a vote was held today.
Read the report in the ODT.
But I don't think it will make any difference : the Dunedin City Council will build the Stadium anyway..

David Farrar Visits Dunedin

Leading New Zealand blogger, David Farrar, visits and has good impressions of Dunedin

Visiting Professor Skeptical On Global Warming

This evening, Professor Aynsley Kellow, Head of the School of Government at the University of Tasmania, gave an Open Lecture on "The Environmental Debate: Climate Change in the 21st Century". He was returning as a graduate of Otago University, and has published a book on this subject.
Professor Kellow expressed concern at the politicization and extremism of the Global Warming proponents, and pointed out much evidence which raises doubts about the theory. Skepticism should be the proper attitude of Science, and not used as an insulting term.
Several "Greenies' in the audience walked out, showing their intolerance of differing viewpoints.
I think that the tide is turning on the Global Warming debate. There is also a skeptical article in this week's student magazine, "Critic", something unlikely to have happened in the past.
As global temperatures fail to increase as predicted, the theory is becoming increasingly in doubt.

ODT opposes Regional Council Palace

Good to see the ODT editorial opposing the spending of $30 million on a new Otago Regional Council headquarters on the waterfront.

Highlanders at Risk

The ODT reports:

Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid says people in the South need to realise there is a risk they may lose the Highlanders.

If there is a risk that Dunedin may lose the Highlanders, then it is too risky to build the new Stadium. The financialHighlanders chief executive Richard Reid says people in the South need to realise there is a risk they may lose the Highlanders. viability of the Stadium relies on large crowds at rugby. But projected crowds are based on those during the golden years of Otago Rugby in the 1990's. Otago Rugby has now lost its fan base. The fundamental problem expressed by Richard Reid is the same as that expressed by opponents of the Stadium: Dunedin just does not have a big enough population base to support it. It is notable that Richard Reid has waited until the decision has been made to proceed with the Stadium, before expressing these views. Over the last couple of years, Otago Rugby has been very quiet about the crowd numbers at Carisbrook.

But once Dunedin is commited to the Stadium and needing rugby to maintain cashflow, then we can be held to ransom by Otago Rugby: "subsidise us or lose the franchise".

The Stadium Will Be Built

Following the decision of the Government to underwrite Stadium funding with $15 million from the Rugby World Cup budget, the Stadium will be built.
But can it be built in time for the World Cup?
This is related to price. It may cost more if there is a deadline, so will the Dunedin City Council be faced with an extra bill if, as a condition of the underwriting, the Government requires the Stadium to be finished in time for World Cup Rugby.