KEY POINTS:
Auckland City councillors have drawn up a secret funding plan for the 2011 Rugby World Cup - much of it for a $190 million upgrade of Eden Park.
The Weekend Herald understands ratepayers are up for between $50 million and $60 million, of which about $23 million is earmarked for Eden Park. The package is conditional on the Auckland Regional Council matching the Eden Park component dollar-for-dollar.
Mayor Dick Hubbard said revealing the figures at this stage would prejudice negotiations being carried out by the Government. The council would make a final decision at a public meeting but he denied this would be a rubber-stamping exercise.
Funding for Eden Park is a sensitive issue. The Government and the Rugby Union gave a commitment to the International Rugby Union to upgrade Eden Park from 47,500 to 60,000 seats before asking ratepayers to share the cost. Soaring rates under Mr Hubbard have also drawn a negative response from ratepayers.
A Herald-DigiPoll survey this time last year found 46.7 per cent of Aucklanders believed the biggest contribution should come from the Rugby Union, followed by sponsors and the Government. Just 6 per cent of respondents said Auckland City should be the biggest contributor.
Eden-Albert ward city councillor Cathy Casey yesterday said ratepayers should not fund Eden Park but there was a case for funding infrastructure such as roads and transport around the sports ground.
"If the Government can open its chequebook for a waterfront stadium, why can't it open its chequebook for Eden Park?" she said.
The opposition Citizens & Ratepayers ticket is being coy on the issue, but bloc-voted with Mr Hubbard last year to increase a fund for international facilities, such as Eden Park,from $50 million to $100 million. C&R voted against cutting the budgetto $60 million.
ARC chairman Mike Lee said that for Auckland City to hold everyone to ransom over demands for an equal sum from his council was "schoolground local politics".
Mr Lee said the ARC would decide its own course. He favoured making some contribution to Eden Park, but stressed the ARC was focused on getting an entertainment strip at the Tank Farm humming and electric trains in time for 2011.
Eden Park Neighbours Association chairman Mark Donnelly, a former city councillor, said it would be appropriate for the council to put $5 million to $10 million into the World Cup.
Mr Donnelly, who is seeking re-election to council, called on councillors to end the secrecy, reveal the figures and assure ratepayers they would not be exposed to any ongoing losses at the sports ground.
A spokeswoman for Rugby World Cup Minister Trevor Mallard said funding discussions were ongoing and would be for some years as commercial arrangements were put in place.
