KEY POINTS:
A grand upgrade of Eden Park costing $270 million is looking shaky after the Auckland Regional Council refused to back a funding package.
The Government has agreed to pay up to $190 million towards the upgrade, which has fewer temporary seats and more permanent seats than the earlier $197 million scheme.
ARC chairman Mike Lee yesterday said his council had no intention of putting up money for either option, but remained committed to improving public transport for the next Rugby World Cup.
He said regional councillors were becoming increasingly worried about the escalating costs of Eden Park.
The Government announced in February that it would underwrite a $190 million upgrade, now costing $197 million, that met the International Rugby Board's requirement of a 60,000-seat stadium for the cup final in 2011.
This involved expanding the 46,000-seat stadium with a new south stand and temporary seating.
Since then, rugby interests have been pushing hard for the $270 million option and for the public purse to cover most of the costs.
Under a proposed funding package, the Government would contribute at least $190 million, Auckland City Council $20 million, Auckland Regional Council $20 million and the Rugby Union $10 million.
Other possible contributors include the Eden Park Trust Board and the ASB Trusts.
A spokeswoman for Rugby World Cup Minister Clayton Cosgrove yesterday confirmed that the Government was prepared to pay up to $190 million towards the $270 million option. The Auckland City Council is prepared to put up $20 million for work outside the stadium linked to the $270 million upgrade and the Rugby Union is committed for $10 million.
Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the project was getting into the eleventh hour. Decisions needed to be made, a consensus reached and all the funding had to be identified.
He plans to meet Mr Cosgrove this week to discuss Eden Park.
"We need to move into Christmas and the New Year with confidence that the project is going to get under way."
