Green MP seeking urgent House debate on stadium

Auckland Green Party MP Keith Locke is asking the Speaker to allow an urgent debate on the Government's plan for a stadium on the Auckland waterfront.

"We are most concerned at that the stadium option is being railroaded through with legislation to get around the Resource Management Act," Mr Locke says.

"Parliament needs to discuss whether to allow such a bad precedent, particularly when so many Aucklanders are opposed to the waterfront site.

"Labour's new talk about sustainability won't wash if it goes around cutting the public out of such important decisions on our environmental heritage.

"There is no way that a 60,000 seat stadium fits harmoniously into Auckland's precious waterfront vista, as many of its citizens are now making clear.

"MPs should also be debating what this novel project might end up costing the taxpayer. There is real danger of a big price blow-out, with the appointed contractor not yet even willing to give a fixed price," said Mr Locke.

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