Media Release

24 September 2007

Auckland City Council announcement keeps Eden Park redevelopment on track for Rugby World Cup 2011

The chairman of the Eden Park Redevelopment Board, John Waller, welcomed the announcement from the Auckland City Council that it has conditionally agreed a $30M funding commitment to the redevelopment of Eden Park, along with a further $20M for transport, amenity and design improvements to the neighbourhood.

"This is fantastic news for the Park and the Rugby World Cup,” said Mr Waller “and the Council’s leadership on the issue will greatly assist the Redevelopment Board’s task to secure the maximum possible funding for the redevelopment.”

Mr Waller added that although the Board was only established in June this year, it had already progressed a number of key redevelopment tasks, and the Council’s announcement was a further step towards ensuring the Park was ready to host the Rugby World Cup final in 2011.

“The Rugby World Cup has been calculated as contributing an additional $240M to the Auckland regional economy, and $507M to New Zealand as a whole.”

“Therefore it is very encouraging to see that the Auckland City Council have rightly recognised the benefits of the Rugby World Cup and we hope that it is taken as a signal as to how important this project is for both the region and the country.”

Mr Waller said that the Redevelopment Board had completed the concept design for the Park’s redevelopment – the first of five stages – and the Council’s contribution would be a factor in maximising the design features.

“We are mindful of the need to responsibly manage the costs of the redevelopment” Mr Waller said, “but we also need to provide New Zealand with a Rugby World Cup finals venue that we can be proud of, and which leaves New Zealand with a top class international sporting venue.”

ENDS

Fact Sheet

In May 2007, the Crown entered an agreement with the Trust Board to underwrite the redevelopment of the Park for Rugby World Cup 2011 for up to $190M.

The Agreement required the establishment of a new Redevelopment Board to manage the redevelopment of the Park, and for new, long term governance arrangements for the Park to be established.

The Eden Park Redevelopment Board has since been established.

The Board comprises:

- John Waller (chair), Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers;

- Neville Harris, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development;

- Rob Fisher, Partner, Simpson Grierson (and trustee of Eden Park Trust Board);

- Nigel Cass, General Manager, Rugby New Zealand Ltd 2011;

- Brian Nightingale, General Manager, McKee Fehl Construction.

The Board has established a leading group of stadium consultants to redevelop the Park including:

- International stadium designers HOK Sport + Venue, whose stadiums include: Telstra Stadium (Sydney); Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane); and Wembley Stadium and Emirates Stadium (London);

- Local architects Jasmax, whose projects include Britomart and Te Papa; and

- Project Managers RCP, whose projects include the Westpac Trust Stadium, Auckland SkyTower, and the America’s Cup Village in Auckland Viaduct;

- Leading engineering firms Connell Wagner, Beca Carter, and Romulus Consulting, who have collectively worked on stadium developments, both locally (such as Westpac Trust Stadium, Waikato Stadium, and AMI Stadium) and internationally (including Telstra Dome and the MCG).

Key dates (approximate only) for the redevelopment project include:

November 2007: Appointment of the main building contractor;

August 2008: Demolition of the South and Southwest Stands;

November 2008: Stadium construction commences;

November 2010: Permanent stands completed;

Mid-2011: Additional temporary seating for RWC 2011 installed;

September 2011: Rugby World Cup commences.

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