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Berry: Sell Surplus Auckland Stadiums. #Auckland2016

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Mayoral Candidate Stephen Berry says we should sell surplus stadiums

In the run up to #Auckand2016 and the Local Elections Talking Southern Auckland from time to time will look at some of the larger issues facing either Southern Auckland or wider Auckland. This morning mayoral candidate Stephen Berry has mentioned about the Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) Stadium Strategy that has been dogged in controversy.

From Voxy:

Sell Auckland’s surplus stadiums – Berry

Tuesday, 2 June, 2015 – 21:01

“Auckland has too many stadiums and the Auckland Council should look at selling some of them,” Mayoral candidate Stephen Berry says.

The Affordable Auckland leader has described Auckland’s stadium situation as a “debacle,” after the council’s stadiums strategy was sent back to the drawing board yet again. Council-controlled Regional Facilities Auckland (RFA) has been given another year to consult on its strategy, which has upset the Warriors franchise over plans to move its games to QBE Stadium in Albany.

Berry says the Auckland Council should kick the current strategy to touch and change its entire approach to managing Auckland’s stadiums. “The stadiums strategy will leave sports fans unhappy and ratepayers out of pocket, funding white elephants that sit empty for most of the year.

“Auckland has an oversupply of stadiums and the Auckland Council needs to think seriously about selling one or more of them. For those that remain, we need to make sure the sports codes that use them pay for their fair share of their upkeep.”

Berry says the council should appoint an independent panel to review the region’s stadiums, with a focus on reducing costs for ratepayers. “As an example, the council is planning to spend millions upgrading Western Springs to host one cricket match a year. This has all the makings of a white elephant, which is ironic considering its close proximity to Auckland Zoo. Cities around the world have got themselves into financial strife by spending too much on sports stadiums for little return. Auckland needs to avoid making the same mistakes.”

“Several of Auckland’s stadiums are in prime locations and would fetch attractive prices if sold,” Berry says. “The money raised from stadium sales could be used to pay off debt, reduce rates increases or even fund the infrastructure and transport improvements Auckland desperately needs.”

He says it’s “questionable” whether the council should even own stadiums. Eden Park, the largest stadium in the country, is run by a separate trust.

“At the very least, RFA should be merged with another council-controlled organisation, such as ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) to save costs.”

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Thoughts?

Check out your options for getting to the FIFA U-20 World Cup

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Know your options and plan ahead

From Auckland Transport

Transport options for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 

If you intend to travel to the FIFA U-20 World Cup at North Harbour Stadium on Tuesday night, plan your trip in advance and allow extra time as the roads will be busy due to peak traffic. Limited parking is available around the stadium.

Public transport is also a good option for Aucklanders to get to the football.

New Zealand plays USA tomorrow night at 7pm at North Harbour Stadium. Public transport to the event is included with your match ticket.

Auckland Transport’s Operations Manager – Special Events Logan Christian says special event buses will run from the central city, Takapuna and Henderson to get fans to and from the stadium. “The buses will generally run along the Northern Busway ensuring a smooth trip.”

Services will depart from Quay St in the city (stop 7301 near Queen St) from 5pm, as well as from Takapuna and Henderson.

Full details here: https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/events/fifa-u-20-world-cup-2015/#Matches 

After the match all event buses will depart from directly outside the stadium on Don McKinnon Drive.

Travel on trains to Britomart, to connect with a bus to the stadium, is also included with match tickets. You can travel from 3 hours prior to kick-off until the last train service of the night.

Mr Christian says: “Whether you are taking the bus or driving to the venue tomorrow night it is important that you allow plenty of time to get there because traffic will be heavy at that time of night.”

Check out the site for the FIFA U-20 World Cup: http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/

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Vandals on Rail Network Risk Their Lives

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The is a saying for that and it begins with ‘D’

From Auckland Transport

Graffiti attacks on trains are dangerous 

Auckland Transport is warning that someone will be seriously injured or killed if foolish young people continue to graffiti trains. The warning comes after an incident yesterday. CCTV footage shows a group of youths wearing balaclavas spraying paint on a train as it slowed and stopped before entering the Parnell tunnel.

Auckland Transport, Manager Rail Services, Craig Inger says being anywhere near train tracks, at any time, is stupid and dangerous. It’s also costly, with ratepayers and taxpayers forking out tens of thousands of dollars a year to cover up the damage.

Improved security at railway stabling yards has seen the problem move onto suburban rail lines in recent years, he says. Mr Inger adds that the region’s new fleet of electric trains are also faster and quieter than the old diesel units and this poses an even greater risk.

In an unrelated incident yesterday, a young man was struck while trespassing on tracks near Orakei station. CCTV footage shows him running away after the incident however services were delayed, and thousands of customers inconvenienced, until Police and the rail operator, Transdev, investigated as it was initially thought to be a fatality.

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