Poll gives go-ahead to $9m stadium funding

By PAUL YANDALL

HAMILTON - Hamilton's dream of having an international quality stadium has moved closer with an overwhelming public endorsement of the project and the city council yesterday voting $9 million for it.

After four years of debate, ratepayers voted in a Hamilton City Council-sponsored referendum 61.2 per cent in favour of funding a $25.8 million redevelopment of Rugby Park, and a $4.5 million upgrade of WestpacTrust Cricket Park.

Just under 48 per cent of the city's 75,000 registered electors and property owners responded to the two-week postal ballot, which ended on Saturday. The poll asked whether the council should contribute funds towards the project.

Of the 21,921 who voted "yes," just over 63 per cent, or 13,869, also believed the council should contribute $9 million towards the plan.

The council mailed out 75,000 voting forms on May 5.

The council met in an emergency meeting yesterday and voted 8-6 in favour of contributing $9 million, less $178,000 already owed to it by the Waikato Regional Sports and Events Centre Trust Board, which has managed the project.

The Mayor of Hamilton, Russ Rimmington, said the result was a vindication of the council's February 29 decision to hold the referendum.

"We as a city council have taken a lot of flak for wanting a referendum, and this whole project over these last four years. Now we have got an overwhelming result and I am absolutely delighted."

Mr Rimmington said the make-up of the existing events centre trust board would be up for discussion this week following the decision to contribute funds.

The twin stadium plan arose after the scrapping of the original $43 million Tainui Stadium concept last November when its proposed cost ballooned to over $50 million.

The council then withdrew its initial $9 million support for the project pending the result of this weekend's $123,000 referendum.

Trust Waikato and WEL Energy Trust have both pledged $6 million towards the twin stadium project and Tainui has indicated that it will contribute $4 million.

The chairman of the events centre trust board, David Braithwaite, said the vote was a pleasing endorsement of the project.

"It is a great victory for the people of Hamilton. They are obviously looking for community facilities and they have shown that with their overwhelming support."

He said funding for the project was looking secure and construction could begin by the end of the year.

The chief executive of the Waikato Rugby Union, Gary Dawson, said the vote gave a clear mandate for the redevelopment of Rugby Park to begin. Included in the plans are new floodlighting, and stands and covered seating that would increase the park's capacity to 27,500.

A new stadium would help secure Hamilton as the home base for the Chiefs Super 12 franchise. It could also host concerts and possibly Auckland Warriors' rugby league matches.

WestpacTrust Cricket Park would receive floodlighting as well as a new stand and increased embankment to boost capacity to 16,500, allowing the venue to host international one-day cricket matches.

Councillor Garry Mallett, who has opposed council funds going towards the project, said the result of the poll had been misused to justify the council's $9 million contribution.

"If you look at the results, just as many people voted "no" as for $9 million. The [council] vote for $9 million just leaves Hamilton staring down an abyss of debt."