Government may ditch Eden Park in favour of new stadium

The Government is investigating a downtown waterfront site for a stadium to host the Rugby World Cup final in Auckland.

It wants to evaluate a proposed $320million upgrade of Eden Park against building a whole new stadium in a better position.

In a statement at 5.30pm today, Minister for the Cup Trevor Mallard dropped the bombshell when he confirmed that it wanted to know if there were better options than upgrading Eden Park.

"The government wants an assurance that there is no alternative better option to the Eden Park proposal, given the considerable size of the potential investment required," he said.

Mr Mallard said a waterfront stadium could have lasting social and economic benefits.

Among them, he listed being close to:

* good transport hubs
* bars and clubs
* hotels
* better parking
* the CBD

Eden Park, on the other hand, is in a suburban setting with little parking and is surrounded by houses.

To host the Cup in 2011, The New Zealand Rugby Union and the Government gave a commitment to the International Rugby Board that Eden Park would be expanded from 47,500 to 60,000 seats. The upgrade through a combination of temporary and permanent upgrades was expected to cost around $160 million.

Since then, the Eden Park Trust Board has developed a much grander "legacy" option, blowing out the cost to $320 million.

But Mr Mallard said today: "We see an opportunity to work with the councils and regional authorities to explore what Auckland believes would best achieve a world-class facility which compliments and enhances the city's conference and event-hosting strategies and which, I would hope, also drives Auckland's aspirations to be a world class city."

He said the government would assist with raising the funding necessary, on top of the $20 million commitment it had made.

But decisions would be made after the two proposals are evaluated.

"The evaluations of the Eden Park and alternative waterfront option requested by the government are due in mid-October and until cabinet has considered them, there will be no further comment."

Rugby New Zealand said in a statement it supported the Government's decision to explore all options.

But RNZ 2011 chairman Jock Hobbs said it would continue to support the Eden Park redevelopment as critical for the World Cup.

Eden Park Development Committee chairman Rob Fisher said Eden Park offers nine hectares of land and $200 million worth assets, including the ASB and West Stands and a world-class turf surface.

Mr Fisher said he was told four weeks ago that the Government wanted to investigate alternatives.

"We are on a tight timeframe, with 48 months to go until the new stadium needs to be fully operational. Minister Mallard has asked the Eden Park Trust Board to proceed with the resource consent process while other options are considered," he said.

- NZHERALD STAFF