Hubbard welcomes waterfront stadium proposal

Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard has welcomed the government's move to investigate a new waterfront stadium for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, rather than Eden Park.

Readers' Views: Where should our rugby stadium be?

The Herald understands Bledisloe Wharf, a short walk from downtown Auckland, is the favoured site for the 60,000-seat stadium promised by the Government and Rugby Union to secure New Zealand's bid to host the tournament.

Speaking from Japan, Mayor Hubbard said a third of the world's population would be focussed on the stadium and it was Auckland's "chance to shine".

"I look forward to the outcome of the evaluations taking place and I will be working with Government to ensure that Aucklanders and New Zealanders get the best possible result: a world-class stadium we can all be proud of," he said.

"As I've said before, we must do it once and do it properly.

"This is our chance to shine – not just for World Cup 2011 but for drawing major events in the future."

He said the Eden Park Trust Board had lodged a resource consent for the redevelopment of Eden Park and the council would continue to process this application unless the board advised otherwise.

World Cup Minister Trevor Mallard is understood to have serious concerns over the ability to upgrade Eden Park in time for the cup, particularly following fresh opposition by residents.

The cost of a new waterfront stadium would be around $350 million, about 10 per cent more than the $320 million needed to upgrade Eden Park to lift seating capacity from 47,500 to 60,000.

Mr Mallard said the Government would not consider topping up the $20 million commitment it made as part of the joint Government-Rugby Union bid until the two options were evaluated.

However, Trust Board Chief Executive John Alexander said Eden Park would be proved as the best option.

He said the board was quite confident the study would endorse Eden Park as the obvious site to be developed.

Mr Alexander said private funding would generate $100 million, with about $200 million required from public sources.

The National Party has also joined the debate.

The party's sports spokesman, Murray McCully said he was more than happy for the Government to be looking around but suggested it would have to be quick with a decision.

He said it was inevitable the bulk of the funding would come from public money.

Aucklanders have overwhelmingly rejected the idea of paying for the Eden Park upgrade. In the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey, 46.7 per cent of Aucklanders said the biggest contribution should come from union coffers.

Only a quarter of respondents said most of the money should come from taxpayers or ratepayers.

- NZHERALD STAFF / NEWSTALK ZB