A worse-than-expected $3.2 million loss recorded by the
company running Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium did not rate a
mention at this week's Dunedin City Council meeting.
It emerged yesterday Dunedin Venues Management Ltd and
Dunedin Venues Ltd's annual reports had quietly slipped
through Monday's full council meeting without a question or
word of debate.
There had been no mention of DVML or DVL on the meeting's
public agenda, and it appeared the reports had not been
circulated publicly, to media or even some council staff, as
required, in the days before the meeting, the Otago Daily
Times discovered yesterday.
Instead, it appeared the reports were given only to
councillors in advance, but as part of an item on Dunedin
City Holdings Ltd's annual results.
DCHL has assumed governance responsibility for DVML and DVL,
but the two companies were not yet technically part of the
DCHL group.
DCHL results presented to media last week also did not
include DVML or DVL's results.
The ODT understands DCHL chief executive Bevan Dodds was
responsible for circulating the group's reports ahead of the
meeting, but when asked he said he had "no idea" why reports
from DVML and DVL did not feature.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull yesterday denied there was any
attempt to sneak the bad results through the council meeting.
"No, it's a public document."
All council companies had until September 30 to provide
reports, and DVML and DVL's had been received by then, he
confirmed.
"To that extent it was expected and there was no need to say
any more than that," he said.
Mr Cull said there was no need for a media briefing to
present the results, as had happened with DVML's six-month
results, as the same pressing impact on council budgets did
not exist this time.
He referred further questions to DVML, but DVML board member
Peter Hutchison said the reports had been delivered to the
council on time.
He had expected the reports to go through the normal public
process, but had heard nothing more from the council about
them and could not explain the apparent omission.
"It's as much a surprise to me as it was to you what happened
[on Monday]. You would have to ask the mayor," he said.
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