Where the ARC spends its money

SOUND WALL

In a rather humiliating ruling, the ARC was ordered to demolish its $300,000 Botanic Gardens noise barrier this year.

The 440m-long, 3.5m wall was put up two years ago at the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens at Manurewa to shield them from motorway noise.

But about 50 residents living opposite complained that the barrier bounced noise on to their homes so that they could not sleep, hear their televisions or sit outside.

They fought to have the wall removed, but after further acoustic testing, the council refused.

This year, Judge Frederick McElrea painted an unflattering picture of a council determined to get its way at all costs, refusing to believe the complaints of "straightforward, genuine and credible" residents.

ERICSSON STADIUM

The ARC held a secret emergency meeting to push through the decision to raise a loan for a $23 million upgrade of Ericsson Stadium, home of the Warriors. A new stand, training facilities and offices are planned for the rugby league club.

The council will borrow up to $21 million, but it claims there will be no impact on rates because the cashflow from the new seats, hospitality facilities and corporate boxes will pay back the loan over 15 years.

The ARC said the reason for the emergency meeting was that time had run out. The council had to commit itself to construction if it wanted seats ready for next year's Australian Rugby League competition.

The public was excluded on the grounds that matters subject to commercial negotiations would be discussed.

RAIL

Almost $40 million will be spent on supporting rail projects in the 2003/04 year. That includes $3.7 million for the operation of Britomart, providing new services, driver training and the charter of additional trains and locomotives.

More than $200,000 will also be put up for an information centre for transport users at the Britomart complex.

VISITOR CENTRE

Construction will start this year on a refurbishment of the Botanic Gardens visitor centre, which is costing $3.3 million - $2.8 million of that from the ARC.

The 20-year-old centre receives 800,000 visitors a year. The extra space will be for information services, merchandise, themed plant displays, a cafe, more toilets and offices.