Dunedin Stadium Can Now Be Built

Construction of the new Dunedin Stadium is set to begin following the decision of the New Zealand High Court in Christchurch.

At the beginning of last week Dunedin Council agreed to sign the $165.4 million construction contract. However, the anti-stadium protest group Stop the Stadium sought a High Court injunction for a review of the project.

Following the High Court decision, Stadium Trust Chairman Malcolm Farry explained, "at last we are now on our way, (the) decision clears the final hurdle for construction to start.

"This is fantastic news for the region, as more than 600 jobs can be created over the next two years in building the Stadium."

At the hearing, the Council's solicitor Frazer Barton stated "the objective is to have the stadium complete for the Rugby World Cup in 2011."

Barton was referring to the extensive investigations that had led to the proposal to build the new stadium as a replacement for the Carisbrook venue in Dunedin's Awatea Street.