Anger over idea to scrap waterfront theatre

There's anger at a proposal to scrap council funding for Auckland's planned waterfront theatre.

A group of eight councillors, led by Christine Fletcher and Cameron Brewer plan to table an alternative 10 year draft budget at a council committee meeting today.

Auckland Theatre Company General Manager Lester McGrath says they've already raised $21.7 million to go towards the $35 million project.

"This is a project which delivers economic benefits as well as social and cultural ones and they're not even looking at that, it's just a cheap parochial political shot."

He says the council voted a year ago to include the project in the budget for the Long Term Plan, subject to a range of conditions.

"It seems terribly unfair to me that they're now proposing that this project be removed without even giving us a chance to report back on the very significant progress that we have made."

Photo: Edward Swift