$30m whitewater stadium spat continues

The argument over $30 million for a whitewater rafting stadium continues, with councillors grumbling over the project’s poor processes.

Last week members of the Auckland Council strategy and finance committee agreed to sell a section of land adjacent to the Pacific Events Centre in Manukau to help fund it.

The project will go to public consultation as part of the annual plan.

Regional Facilities Auckland, the council organisation in charge of the project, want the proceeds for the land to go to the Countries Manukau Pacific Trust for stage two of the project.

While $30 milllion will pay for the whitewater course itself, the stage two development includes other features such as a “cultural attraction” and café.

This brings the total budget to $58.9 million.

Plans for the project are already under fire after revelations a “slip-up” saw it left out of the long-term plan. 

Now some councillors are upset they were not reviewed by council organisations which they say should have seen the plans.

At the super city’s economic forum earlier this week, councillor Dick Quax questioned why other areas of the council did not review the project.

He says he was surprised to discover the proposal has not been reviewed by Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, or the economic development arm of the council.

The Howick councillor says he thought given the economic development touted by the Counties Manukau  Pacific Trust and its claim the proposal was very robust, one of the economic development specialists would have reviewed it.

“Regional Facilities Auckland has no capacity or expertise to do business reviews, as far as I’m aware.

“There are a huge number of questions which haven’t been answered to my satisfaction on the ongoing operating costs.”

Councillor Cameron Brewer, who chaired the meeting, agreed.

“As councillors we need to be confident that what is promised can stand up to scrutiny and that should start with internal reviews of such big economic promises at the very least.”

But RFA chief executive Robert Domm says due process has been followed.

“The business plan was reviewed by the RFA Board and independently by Ernst and Young on behalf of RFA. It was also peer reviewed by Auckland Council officers.”

Mr Domm says he is happy with the process so far, but noted another $100,000 had been earmarked for more work on the business plan.

Counties Manukau Pacific Trust chief executive Richard Jeffery said he would work on the business plan once the Trust had received the council’s support.

Another arm of the council, Auckland Council Properties, is in charge of selling the land.

Once sold RFA will hold the proceeds until the outcome of public consultation is known.

Strategy and Finance Committee chairwoman Penny Webster says the public consultation will take place from January to February next year as part of the annual plan.

vyoung@nbr.co.nz