10. RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister for the Rugby World Cup
At which Cabinet meeting was the option to build a stadium on Auckland’s waterfront first proposed, and whose idea was it?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) Link to this
On 28 August Cabinet requested a feasibility study on a range of options, including a waterfront stadium. This study was considered on 6 November. This matter has always had the primary carriage from the Minister for the Rugby World Cup.
Will the Minister stake his political career on the total cost of the stadium on the waterfront—should it proceed—costing less in total than a billion dollars; if not, why not?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I think it would be inappropriate for me, on behalf of Mr Mallard, to stake my ambitious understudy’s future on the costings of the stadium.
Keith LockeDoes the Minister agree with the Eden Park Trust Board that it can bring 74 percent of the World Cup crowd into the game by train, bus, or coach, compared with 58 percent for the waterfront option; and given that the waterfront option is considerably more expensive than the Eden Park upgrade, does the Minister not think that the extra money would be better put into upgrading Auckland’s rail infrastructure and bus services?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have no idea on which basis the Eden Park board would make that claim. It may well be, of course, that what they really mean is that they cannot get as many cars arriving at Eden Park as would be available to go down to the waterfront stadium; but by deduction, therefore, the rest have to come by bus, train, helicopter, or various other means.
Darien FentonHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have, indeed. I received one today, for example, in which the stated proposal was criticised as being an abuse of the democratic process. I quote: “Rodney and I share concerns about the lack of proper consultation to date about any attempt to force parliamentary oversight into a rushed timetable.” Another one said that the Public Works Act should be used to confiscate private land at Carlaw Park. The first came from Keith Locke and Rodney Hide, the second from Rodney Hide alone.
Dr Don BrashCan he advise the House how the estimate for the waterfront stadium came in at exactly $497 million, when most of the major components of that stadium cannot be estimated within the nearest $100 million?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Clearly, as with the Eden Park stadium, for which there are no final detailed plans at this stage, any estimates are precisely that: estimates.
Gordon CopelandHas any consideration at all been given to the 62,000-seat Endeavour Stadium proposal on reclaimed land in Mechanics Bay, with its 12,500 car parks, 250 bus parks, two hotels, and new railway station with four times the capacity of Britomart, all at reasonable cost to the taxpayer, for completion by September 2009; if not, why not?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I must say that almost everybody is coming forward with alternative proposals, so I expect Aunt Jemima’s backyard to appear some time soon from somebody as a site for the stadium. But, seriously, if one is suggesting that one can build a project of that size by September 2009 when there are doubts about the deliverability of either Eden Park stadium or the waterfront stadium by the end of 2010, then I think imagination is starting to run well beyond reality at that point.
How does the Government’s overriding of the Resource Management Act in this case differ from the Muldoon “think big” era, when proper planning procedures were swept aside at the convenience of the Government and at the expense of local communities?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I invite them to read my exceptionally powerful speech on the second reading of the Clutha Development (Clyde Dam) Empowering Bill to understand the difference. The Clutha Development (Clyde Dam) Empowering Act overrode an already arrived-at process outcome, which is quite different from intervening before that begins to get consent, which is what both National and Labour supported on the America’s Cup. In the case of Eden Park, the risk is that we may launch upon a resource consents process that does not achieve consents, and then the Eden Park Trust Board will be back here not just for the money to build the stadium, because it does not have that, but also for legislation to override the fact that it failed to get the consents for the stadium.
Ron MarkCan he confirm for the benefit of all Canterbury people that if Auckland does what most Canterbury people suspect they will not be able to do, which is to make a decision—[ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It is clear that Jade Stadium remains a viable back-up, and its utility is that it remains a back-up through until 2008 because it is far easier to extend Jade Stadium into a 60,000-seat stadium. What I would expect is that if there is not express support from Auckland City Council or the regional council around the waterfront option, then presumably they will support the Eden Park stadium option. But I emphasise again, the Eden Park Trust Board does not have completed detailed plans and does not have the money to build the Eden Park option; it does not have final costings to build it, either.
In light of the Minister’s answer, is the Government then having second thoughts about the stadium on the waterfront, with polls showing Aucklanders two to one against the proposal and a large number of city leaders against the proposal, or has the Prime Minister got a touch of the “Muldoons” and will ram through the stadium on the waterfront, despite what New Zealanders say or think?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Apart from the fact that the Prime Minister is much taller, slimmer, and healthier than the late Sir Robert Muldoon, the answer is no. The only second thoughts I am aware of at this stage are that on Sunday the member appeared backing Carlaw Park, and today appears backing Eden Park.
I seek leave to table an article from yesterday’s New Zealand Herald headed “Act now to prevent the barbarians running amok”.