A Christchurch city councillor has renewed calls for councils throughout Canterbury to stump up for the city's beleaguered stadium project.
The proposed Christchurch stadium. Photo: Supplied
Plans for the long-awaited stadium in Christchurch continue to endure setbacks with project managers revealing this week costs had ballooned by another $150 million.
The 30,000 multi-use arena is now expected to cost more than $680 million with ratepayers to be consulted on the next course of action.
The Christchurch City Council highlighted global factors, including rising costs on an overheated construction market, the war in Ukraine and Covid-19 as factors upon the latest cost estimate.
Christchurch residents are now faced with three options: increase the Budget, scale back the project, or halt work altogether.
In the interim, the council is pursuing a meeting with community leaders in the neighbouring districts to discuss the floundering project.
"We are interested to hear any suggestions about how we could overcome the funding gap so that we can deliver a great arena for our region," a council spokesperson said.
The proposed Christchurch stadium. Photo: Supplied / Christchurch City Council
Councillor Sam MacDonald said given the regional benefits the facility will provide, other councils should be making a financial contribution.
"This project is nearly $700 million," he said.
"There's Crown funding of $220 million, plus the land and some land remediation money, but ultimately the largest chunk of this is going to be absorbed by the Christchurch ratepayers.
"So it's only right and proper that some of those neighbouring councils look to do it."
MacDonald said an approach to councils within the regional council boundaries would be a logical step.
Canterbury Regional Council's boundaries extend from Kaikoura to the Waitaki River and encompasses 10 district councils.
An alternative option of implementing a pricing structure, where out-of-towners pay more on ticket prices for events, was also proposed.
"If they (neighbouring councils) don't contribute then we will need to look at a mechanism to see how we can recover some of that cost in the price of tickets," MacDonald said.
"It may get to a point where there's a Christchurch ratepayer discount on tickets."
Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon said they had not received an official request for funding support.
"Presently the stadium is not anticipated or funded in our Long Term Plan," he said.
"We have however recently been approached by [the Christchurch City Council] who have requested a meeting with mayors and chief executives across Canterbury to discuss the stadium."
A spokesman for Selwyn District Mayor Sam Broughton told RNZ any contribution from his council would be subject to consultation with its community.