GENERAL - Push for Ruakaka stadium venue

A GROUP of Bream Bay residents is lobbying for a scaled-back, $15 million stadium planned for Whangarei's Okara Park to be built in Ruakaka instead
Led by Ruakaka computer consultant Andreas Thirling, the group has accused the Northland Events Centre Trust of not consulting with ratepayers and choosing a "crammed-up" venue plagued by pollution and inadequate parking.
A scaled-back version of the events centre - which replaces the originally planned $40m stadium - was okayed by the trust, the Northland Rugby Union, Whangarei District Council and Northland Regional Council at a watershed meeting on February 14.
The consultants will now prepare a more detailed report by mid-March.
Mr Thirling - who ran in the district council election last year on the Respect Northland ticket, but failed to get in - does not represent a formal group, but is a spokesman for disgruntled Ruakaka residents who believe their area is the perfect location for a new stadium.
He said additional facilities and events such as biking, motocross, a shooting range, concerts and stage shows could be accommodated if the scaled-back stadium was located in Ruakaka.
"With flat land, there will be enough time to plan the project properly and I think there should be more discussion on this. The trust is forcing ratepayers to accept their decision. We have no say, and no input. People are willing to come to the party if discussions open up."
Mr Thirling said group members were thinking about a petition as their next course of action.
He said a stadium in Ruakaka could either be funded by the Government or big business.
With a proposed airport at Mata and plans for a Marsden Pt rail link, he said the new stadium would be easily accessible.
Events Centre Trust chairman Bill Shepherd said the Ruakaka group was welcome to send up any proposals before a final decision was made.
"We haven't been officially approached by them but if they want, they can make a formal submission to us - and if the proposal has merit, we'll go back to the settlors for their approval."
He said the group could write to the trust through the regional council, which is the major funder for the project.
In the past other groups have called for the controversial, on-again, off-again stadium to be built on district council land at the Blue Goose, just south of Whangarei.
• What do you think - what's the best place for a scaled-back events centre? Txt the Advoc8 on 021 516 091.