Giant match screen budget soars past $3m

Apartment dwellers near Aotea Square have objected to the giant screen, citing the noise levels of Laneway Festival. Photo / Richard Robinson

Plans for a giant screen in Aotea Square at the Rugby World Cup are in jeopardy - and the cost has blown out from $1.65 million to $3.07 million.

An 82sq m screen is due to be installed on the Sky City Metro building following an $82.35 million redevelopment of Aotea Square.

Auckland councillors were told last week about problems installing the screen in time for the Cup.

The Herald subsequently learned that a committee of the former Auckland City Council approved the nearly doubling in cost to $3.07 million behind closed doors last August.

The soaring price of the screen comes as the public is benefiting from tumbling prices for giant, high-definition, ultra-slim televisions.

It also follows the decision by the Auckland Council to spend another $3.17 million on the Rugby World Cup for gaining three more matches from quake-damaged Christchurch.

Ratepayers are now paying $103 million to host the Cup.

Auckland Council chief finance officer Andrew McKenzie, who was finance boss at Auckland City, denied a cost blowout for the screen.

"The council agreed to this based on initial cost estimates before requests for proposals had gone out. When they came back and there were accurate costs it was taken back to council to see if it was still acceptable to them. They were as the project now had accurate costings," he said.

Mr McKenzie said the project had attracted sponsorship and advertising revenue, which meant the operating budget for the screen had not risen.

The report on the issue remains hidden from ratepayers.

Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) chief executive Michael Redman told councillors last week there was a risk the permanent screen would not be installed in time for the Cup.

He said commercial negotiations with the building owner were incomplete and there was an alternative plan to hire and install a temporary screen on top of the Aotea Centre.

ATEED said installing a temporary screen on the Aotea Centre was not deemed appropriate because of the impact on sight lines and aesthetics.

Australian-based Orchard Diversified Property Trust, which owns the Sky City Metro building at the northern end of the square, could not be reached for comment.

The screen has already drawn opposition from apartment dwellers near Aotea Square, fired up by the "loud and proud" Laneway Festival held at the square on Anniversary Day.

The former Auckland City Council sought views on boosting the sound level for when the screen was used in conjunction with events.

The Auckland Council wants to increase the noise limit of 65 decibels for six events a year permitted under the district scheme to 85 decibels for up to 45 screen events a year.

Local residents have complained about rising noise levels in the Square, with this year's Laneway music festival attracting much of the criticism.

Meanwhile, plans are under way for at least one cruise ship to be based in the Bay of Islands during the Cup where fans will be bused to Swanson to get on trains to Eden Park, or bused to North Harbour Stadium. Auckland will be full with five cruise ships.

THE NUMBERS

$1.65 million initial estimated cost of the screen
$3.07 million new projected cost of the screen
65 decibels the current noise limit for the square
85 decibels the council's preferred noise limit for 45 screen events a year