Unrest over Dunedin Stadium funding

While the Dunedin City Council (DCC) has named Hawkins Construction as the Preferred Contractor for its new, multipurpose Otago Stadium, local unrest about the cost of the stadium has led to protests.
Last week, 1,300 people marched in protest against the Dunedin City Council's plan to force ratepayers, and possibly other taxpayers, to underwrite the cost of the proposed stadium.
The âStop the Stadiumâ group is calling for a halt to the development, highlighting how costs for a new Dunedin stadium have risen from $15 million to $188 million since 2003.
The group is concerned that nearly half of the cost of the stadium ($91.4 million) will be charged to Dunedinâs ratepayers and will cause other DCC services to be reduced.
The Group has also expressed concern over lack of consultation, highlighting that Malcolm Farry, Chairman of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust had, in 2006, stated that âratepayers would be the funders of last resort (for the new stadium).�?
Libertarian NZ leader Richard McGrath has supported the âStop the Stadiumâ group stating that âthe Libertarianz Party opposes coercion in all its forms, including this attempt by the DCC to shackle ratepayers to someone's dream.
"This project should be financed voluntarily, and entirely, from private sources."