Awatea Street Stadium

The Awatea Street Stadium or New Carisbrook (tentative name) is a proposed rugby union stadium which would be built in Dunedin, New Zealand, replacing the current Carisbrook as the home stadium of Highlanders Super 14 club. After prolonged deliberation the Dunedin City Council on March 17, 2008 voted 12-2 in favour of proceeding with the project. [cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/1320238/1642915|title=Dunedin council to help fund stadium|date=March 17, 2008|publisher=TVNZ|accessdate=2008-08-29] It has a planned opening date of 2010 or 2011, and is scheduled to host some matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The stadium is intended to have a capacity of 25,000 spectators, with the capability to go up to 30,000 spectators with temporary seating. The stadium will have a clear, plastic roof.

It will be located between University of Otago and the Otago Harbour, close to Logan Park, [cite web|url=http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/AAMB2/4379239a22775.html|title=New Carisbrook stadium getting closer|date=29 January 2008|publisher=Southland Times|accessdate=2008-08-29] the University Oval, and Otago Polytechnic at coord|45|52|11.69|S|170|31|30.15|E|region:NZ_type:landmark|display=inline,title. The council began purchasing the required land on 31 July 2008, with remaining settlements on 31 October, 2008 and 2009. The cost of the land was $32.5 million, above the original budget of $20 million, but the Carisbrook Stadium Trust expected to make some money back from the sale of surplus land and materials from the demolition. [cite web|url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/20001/council-starts-buying-stadium-land|title=Council starts buying stadium land|last=Loughrey|first=David|date=29 August 2008|publisher=Otago Daily Times|accessdate=2008-08-29]

Changes to State Highway 88, which links Dunedin and Port Chalmers, proposed prior to the stadium proposal, have been amended to accommodate the proposed new structure. Construction of the revamped highway is due to begin late in 2008.

The Awatea Street Stadium project has met with considerable opposition within Dunedin, with objections focusing largely on the expected cost of a stadium that may find limited use. However, the Carisbrook Stadium Trust has ensured the city that the venue will be extremely versatile.

References

External links

* [http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council-projects/stadium/relevant-documents-for-the-awatea-street-stadium Dunedin City Council project documents]
* [http://www.ourstadium.co.nz/ New stadium supporters website]
* [http://stopthestadium.org.nz/ New stadium opposition website]
* [http://www.carisbrook.org.nz/ Carisbrook website]