ODT Sports Chat: Basketball & Netball gets underway
ODT Sports Chat proudly brought to you by the Edgar Centre is back for another season.
In this episode Paul Dwyer is having a look at Dunedin Netball with General Manager Lee-Anne Anderson and the Basketball Otago with Rebecca Moon. Both give some commentary about the competition ahead and both voice their concerns over the ongoing issues with the roof at the stadium.
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Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
DCC lifts the lid on $15m plan for Edgar Centre roof
A new roof could be coming for Dunedin's leaky Edgar Centre complex at a cost of more than $15 million. Replacement of the roof was yesterday added to the Dunedin City Council's planned capital expenditure programme for the next nine years after sports bodies and users of the facility advocated for comprehensive action to be taken. They had warned of injury risks, reputational harm and the city continuing to miss out on hosting tournaments unless problems with leaks and condensation were fixed. Councillors have begun deliberations on the council's 2025-34 long-term plan, and they agreed yesterday they had to find the money for replacing the Edgar Centre roof. They included $360,000 in 2025-26 for detailed design, then $3m for the project in 2026-27 and $12m in 2027-28. The allocation is not quite final, but no councillor voted against it. The call was led by deputy mayor Cherry Lucas, who listed an array of sports that used the centre, as well as noting it was a venue for conferences, weddings, trade shows and Otago Polyfest. It was a mass-use facility but could be "treacherous" at times, she said. Fixing the centre was a priority spend for people who wanted rates rises kept in check, she said. Cr Lucas said there had also been significant public fundraising in the past, as well as financial support from the Edgar family. In 2023, the council decided to continue with a largely reactive approach to leaks. A report at the time said leaks and condensation created risks for facility users because the water could pool on the courts and cause players to slip. Condensation was particularly evident during winter. The complex was described as "dynamic", as the centre was on shifting and sinking ground beside Otago Harbour. The council faced strong calls this year to act. Edgar Centre manager Blair Crawford said in his long-term plan submission the estimated $15m cost was good value for money compared with building a new facility. The Edgar Centre submission was supported by numerous sporting organisations, including Sport Otago, Dunedin Netball, Basketball Otago, Volleyball Otago and Football South. Cr Steve Walker said sports facilities were vital for adults and particularly important for the health of children. Cr Lee Vandervis said the Edgar Centre was the "best-value facility we have". He did not support other parts of the council's proposed $1.9b, nine-year capital expenditure programme. Cr Jim O'Malley said fixing the problems there was part of building and maintaining a modern city. Cr Christine Garey noted the high level of councillor support and said she hoped to also see that when it came to discussing what should be done regarding venues for performing arts.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Scoop
All Blacks Great Joins Battle To Keep Western Springs Stadium In Public Hands
Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams is calling on Aucklanders to keep Western Springs stadium in public hands. Auckland Council and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited (TAU) have launched a public consultation on the future of Western Springs Stadium. Tuifa'asisina, former All Black and Ponsonby Rugby Club stalwart, is backing a community-led proposal to transform the stadium into a multi-use venue, as he fears a commercial redevelopment would erase a vital community space. 'This is not just about rugby - it's about preserving public access to one of Auckland's most iconic community spaces,' Tuifa'asisina says. 'We're not looking to build walls or gates. We're building access - access to top-class facilities at community rates.' The council consultation document outlines three options for the site's future: redeveloping it into a new Auckland Arena, transforming it into the Western Springs Bowl, or keeping the current setup with flexibility for alternative ideas. Tuifa'asisina supports the Bowl option, which is backed by Ponsonby Rugby Club and music promoters CRS Records and Eccles Entertainment. It proposes: -A 5000-8000 seat stadium for school finals, club sport, and community tournaments -A permanent stage for concerts and cultural events -Shared clubrooms and changing rooms for local sports and fitness groups -Affordable spaces for holiday programmes, fundraisers, and community events 'Let's be honest, private management means restricted access, high hireage fees, and limited availability. "That's not the Auckland we want to live in,' he says. Mike Lee, Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor, says the public consultation process is already flawed, and claims Auckland Council sidelined community voices early on. 'It's all very well and good that the Council is asking the public, but they should have asked the public before they evicted Speedway from Western Springs Stadium,' he says. Auckland Council voted last year to evict the speedway and relocate the club south to Waikaraka Speedway. Lee says this has removed "the most popular" candidate from the choices. Rich lister Anna Mowbray and her husband, former All Black Ali Williams, are backing a privately funded venue focused on football. [ It would replace the natural amphitheatre with a new 12,500-seat stadium, including new facilities for Auckland FC, community sports, and commercial amenities such as restaurants and gyms. Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU and one of the private investors, told RNZ's Morning Report they want to create a world-class facility that serves both professional sports and the wider community. However, Tuifa'asisina has concerns the commercial option could limit access to large-scale community events 'We've seen festivals like Laneway and Pasifika fill the park with joy. Will they happen in a private, locked facility?' Tuifa'asisina asks. Lee says he is opposed to the privatisation of a public, open space. 'I firmly believe that soccer, rugby, concerts and speedway can all fit into Western Springs Stadium with a bit of intelligent planning and with goodwill.' He says he strongly support the retention of Ponsonby Rugby at Western Springs. "Essentially, it's the only place available that's suitable.' Council officials say the public now has a chance to help shape the venue's long-term use. Max Hardy, Auckland Council's Director of Group Strategy, says Western Springs has a rich and layered history – from the time when eels were fished in the springs, to its use as a water reservoir, and later a stadium for speedway, sport, and iconic concerts. TAU's chief executive Nick Hill says the site has untapped potential. 'Western Springs Stadium is a special place with huge potential to evolve and meet the needs of our vibrant city and region." Renowned architect Pete Bossley, who is supporting the Bowl proposal, says the natural contours of the stadium are irreplaceable. 'The amphitheatre is iconic and historic. To destroy that would be criminal.' Ponsonby Rugby Club chair Greg Edmonds warns that once the stadium is privatised, the public is unlikely to get it back in this lifetime. 'We're offering a balanced, public-private model that meets council goals and gives the public real value. We're not in this to line our pockets – we're doing this because community engagement is the fabric of a strong city. And this is our shot to keep that fabric intact.' 'It's a common-sense solution. And it's one that keeps this beautiful ground open to the people who love it,' Tuifa'asisina says. Public feedback is open until 15 June 2025 on the Auckland Council 'Have Your Say' website. No final decisions will be made until the consultation period ends and all submissions have been reviewed.
1News
21-05-2025
- 1News
All Blacks great weighs in on Western Springs stadium battle
Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams is calling on Aucklanders to keep Western Springs stadium in public hands. Auckland Council and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited have launched a public consultation on the future of Western Springs Stadium. Tuifa'asisina, former All Black and Ponsonby Rugby Club stalwart, is backing a community-led proposal to transform the stadium into a multi-use venue, as he fears a commercial redevelopment would erase a vital community space. "This is not just about rugby — it's about preserving public access to one of Auckland's most iconic community spaces," Tuifa'asisina said. "We're not looking to build walls or gates. We're building access — access to top-class facilities at community rates." The council consultation document outlines three options for the site's future: redeveloping it into a new Auckland Arena, transforming it into the Western Springs Bowl, or keeping the current setup with flexibility for alternative ideas. Tuifa'asisina supports the Bowl option, which is backed by Ponsonby Rugby Club and music promoters CRS Records and Eccles Entertainment. It proposes: A 5000-8000 seat stadium for school finals, club sport, and community tournaments A permanent stage for concerts and cultural events Shared clubrooms and changing rooms for local sports and fitness groups Affordable spaces for holiday programmes, fundraisers, and community events. 'Let's be honest, private management means restricted access, high hireage fees, and limited availability. "That's not the Auckland we want to live in," he said. Mike Lee, Waitematā and Gulf Ward councillor, said the public consultation process was already flawed, and claimed Auckland Council side-lined community voices early on. "It's all very well and good that the council is asking the public, but they should have asked the public before they evicted speedway from Western Springs Stadium," he said. Auckland Council voted last year to evict the speedway and relocate the club south to Waikaraka Speedway. Lee said this has removed "the most popular" candidate from the choices. Rich lister Anna Mowbray and her husband, former All Black Ali Williams, are backing a privately funded venue focused on football. It would replace the natural amphitheatre with a new 12,500-seat stadium, including new facilities for Auckland FC, community sports, and commercial amenities such as restaurants and gyms. Mowbray, co-founder of ZURU and one of the private investors, told RNZ they want to create a world-class facility that served both professional sports and the wider community. However, Tuifa'asisina was concerned the commercial option could limit access to large-scale community events "We've seen festivals like Laneway and Pasifika fill the park with joy. Will they happen in a private, locked facility?" Tuifa'asisina asked. Lee said he was opposed to the privatisation of a public, open space. "I firmly believe that soccer, rugby, concerts and speedway can all fit into Western Springs Stadium with a bit of intelligent planning and with goodwill." He said he strongly support the retention of Ponsonby Rugby at Western Springs. "Essentially, it's the only place available that's suitable." Council officials said the public now had a chance to help shape the venue's long-term use. Max Hardy, Auckland Council's director of group strategy, said Western Springs had a rich and layered history – from the time when eels were fished in the springs, to its use as a water reservoir, and later a stadium for speedway, sport, and iconic concerts. Tātaki Auckland chief executive Nick Hill said the site had untapped potential. 'Western Springs Stadium is a special place with huge potential to evolve and meet the needs of our vibrant city and region." Renowned architect Pete Bossley, who was supporting the Bowl proposal, said the natural contours of the stadium were irreplaceable. "The amphitheatre is iconic and historic. To destroy that would be criminal." Ponsonby Rugby Club chair Greg Edmonds warned that once the stadium was privatised, the public was unlikely to get it back in this lifetime. "We're offering a balanced, public-private model that meets council goals and gives the public real value. We're not in this to line our pockets — we're doing this because community engagement is the fabric of a strong city. And this is our shot to keep that fabric intact." "It's a common-sense solution. And it's one that keeps this beautiful ground open to the people who love it," Tuifa'asisina said. Public feedback was open until June 15, 2025 on the Auckland Council "Have Your Say" website. No final decisions would be made until the consultation period ended and all submissions reviewed. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
