Concerns that the Whangarei District Council had agreed to serve up a slice of the new Northland Events Centre to rugby interests have been laid to rest - but not before an exchange of fire.
The issue erupted after Northland Regional Council chair Mark Farnsworth wrote to Whangarei mayor Stan Semenoff last month saying he "had come to understand there may be an undisclosed agreement between the Whangarei District Council and the Northland Rugby Union regarding the transfer of part or all of the Events Centre asset to NRU".
If not, he asked for a written assurance that no such agreement would be entered into for the structure being built by the NRC.
His request for clarification met with an immediate and angry response from Mark Simpson, Whangarei District Council CEO, which did not answer Mr Farnsworth's questions.
"Your intimation that your council in some way supports destroying assets and not replacing them would be a reprehensible stance for local government to take and one which could only by its absence of natural justice alienate the public, " he said.
Mr Farnsworth replied detailing the agreements that had enabled the stadium project to proceed, including that it had been a condition of NRC funding ($13m of the total $16m cost) that it was to be a multi-purpose centre, owned and operated by an independent trust.
Yesterday, Mr Farnsworth said the issue had been resolved on Monday at a meeting between himself, Mayor Semenoff and Mr Simpson.
"It was a very productive meeting and the issue was resolved in a very professional manner," he said.
He said the tone of Mr Simpson's letter had annoyed him - "I will make no bones about that".
"I don't think CEO's should enter the political arena, but we had a very professional talk and Mr Simpson has been a good servant to the WDC.
"I don't think there is a problem - perhaps we were just talking past each other."
"This is about two councils trying to work together. We just got a bit sidetracked."
NRU chief executive officer Jim Smillie said the union had been discussing the conditions of its tenancy in the new centre with the WDC, just as other prospective tenants would be doing.
Mr Semenoff said the two organisations were now working "amicably and collaboratively" on common issues.
Whangarei MP Phil Heatley said yesterday he had sought assurances that all councils were "on the same page on the events centre's intent", which would be available for a wide range of uses.
"They are crystal clear that locals expect a multi-use centre, not simply a rugby stadium," he said.
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