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Phil Goff under fire from angry councillors over stadium report

Author
Bernard Orsman, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 21 May 2018, 8:39AM
News about the potential new stadium was revealed over the weeeknd. (Photo / Supplied)
News about the potential new stadium was revealed over the weeeknd. (Photo / Supplied)

Phil Goff under fire from angry councillors over stadium report

Author
Bernard Orsman, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 21 May 2018, 8:39AM

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is expected to get a grilling from some councillors at a meeting this morning to discuss a $932,000 report for a national stadium in central Auckland.

At least two councillors are unhappy with the mayor for only giving them a redacted version of the pre-feasibility report, prepared by the consultancy firm PwC for the mayor through the council's regional facilities arm.

Goff, who called for the report after being elected in October 2016, has used its findings to discuss plans for a new national stadium in downtown Auckland with Sports Minister Grant Robertson.

He told the Herald on Friday a downtown stadium could be configured for Super Rugby and NRL matches, test matches, and large concerts at a cost of between $1.1 billion and $1.5b.

Writing on Facebook this morning, councillor Cathy Casey said the PwC report was unknown to the 20 elected councillors until a redacted version was made available by the Ombudsman to the Herald and RNZ.

"A hastily convened [and poorly attended] briefing session for councillors with the mayor and Regional Facilities Auckland was held at the end of the day on Wednesday and another one is scheduled for 8.30am this morning.

"To add insult to injury, councillors have been sent the redacted copy of the report. Looks like I may have to contact the Ombudsman as well!" Casey said.

Councillor John Watson said Goff had been sitting on the report for quite a while and councillors who attended last Wednesday's briefing were only given a redacted copy.

He said some councillors had asked to see a full copy of the report and were refused it.

Watson said he and councillor Wayne Walker were allowed to read the full report under the watch of mayoral staff, but not allowed to copy it or take it away.

"It's pretty insulting behaviour. PwC are paid nearly $1 million for this and we are not allowed to have a full copy and reflect on it," Watson said.

He said he had seen the six unidentified sites for a new downtown stadium and while he could not name them, "a number identified for study are so unsuitable they could and should have been dismissed without any investigation being required".

A mayoral spokesman said Goff was about to go into the briefing and unavailable to talk to the Herald.

"Councillors have been offered an opportunity to view an unredacted copy of the PwC report whenever they want.

"This approach appeared to be viewed favourably in the briefing last week," the spokesman said.

 

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