NEWS RELEASE
22 June 2001

Council Votes To Advance Indoor Arena

Auckland City councillors today voted 13-5 to progress the indoor arena at Quay Park.

However, Councillors acknowledged that the arena would not meet the needs of a quality convention centre and called for a report summarising all the available information on the need for, and location of, a convention centre.

The decisions were made today (June 22) at a combined committees meeting which adopted the annual plan.

Recent consultation on the options indicated 61 per cent support for the Council to contribute $50 million to build an indoor arena.

Councillor Kay McKelvie, the chairperson of the Combined Committees, said the most frequent comments in the consultation were that ¡§such an arena was long overdue and that the council should ¡¥get on with it¡¦.¡¨

¡§The people are telling us they want less talk and more action on the arena,¡¨ said Councillor Victoria Carter, chairperson of the City Attractions Committee, ¡§so it¡¦s encouraging their councillors want to keep moving ahead.¡¨

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Another theme of the consultation, reinforced by a Hillary Commission report, was that Quay Park was a good location, particularly with its proximity to public transport, the CBD and the waterfront.

The indoor arena project has been progressing for more than five years.

To go any further the private sector partners, which have indicated they would contribute half of the cost, required a commitment from the Council on the $50 million contribution.

¡§The next stage will identify the users, income, revenue, car parking issues, traffic studies, risk allocation and much more,¡¨ said Councillor McKelvie.

She also recommended that, having regard to the significant economic benefit for the nation and the region from the arena and convention facilities ¡V and the regional support that has been gained for the indoor arena - that central Government be lobbied for financial assistance.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
„h Councillor Kay McKelvie, tel: 846 7076 or 025 279 6448.
„h Councillor Victoria Carter, tel: 529 1121 or 025 377 018.

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