Sweeteners in offing for Eden Park locals

Mt Eden residents affected by the proposed Eden Park redevelopment could be offered sweeteners such as free central heating installation and double-glazing in return for their consent.

The feature of the preferred design, which will be made public for the first time on Friday, is a superstructure that will replace the Eastern Terraces and South Stand.

This will provide the bulk of the extra 13,000 seats needed to bring the stadium capacity up from 47,000 to the 60,000 stipulated in the 2011 Rugby World Cup bid.

The new stand will be significantly taller than either of the two existing structures and cast a greater shadow on to some neighbouring houses.

However, the Herald on Sunday understands sweeteners will be offered to stop the $200 million-plus facelift failing at the consent stage.

Public consultation with groups, including Eden Park Neighbours' Association and Eden Park Residents' Association, will begin following Friday's announcement by the Eden Park Trust Board.

Feedback and submissions will be taken before resource consent lodgement in August.

Residents' concerns have centred on how the facelift will affect their lives, particularly during major sports events such as the World Cup. While the shadow cast will be longer, the new design will cut light and noise emissions.

Eden Park Trust Board chief executive John Alexander wanted residents to attend the three public meetings, the first at Eden Park's Hall of Legends on Saturday.

"Specific attention will be given to visual effects, improving public transport use, traffic management, containment of noise and light, and pedestrian movement to and from games," he said.

Architects HOK Sports have been brought on board as consultants. The firm has been involved with stadium designs including the redevelopment of the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Commonwealth Games, and Brisbane's acclaimed Suncorp Stadium.

Features of the proposed redevelopment will include:

* The ASB Stand being extended to replace the Panasonic Stand

* A superstructure that will meet the extended ASB Stand and replace the existing Eastern Terraces and South Stand

* More than a third of the seating will remain uncovered

* Underground car parks

* An 8m wide pedestrian bridge from Kingsland

* A concourse circling the ground

* A transport hub at the back of the West Stand which will drastically reduce the size of Eden Park No 2 ground.

There are still issues over finance and governance, with costs expected to be significantly more than the $130 million figure touted by NZRU chief executive Chris Moller during World Cup bidding.

The Herald this week revealed secret discussions were taking place within the Auckland City Council to find $60m of ratepayer funding.

Industry sources also believe significant funding could be secured by issuing naming rights for the stadium, as long as Eden Park was incorporated in the title, for example, Emirates Eden Park.