Dunedin city councillor Lee Vandervis has questioned the merit of closing the Octagon for a "three-day drinkathon'' centred on Saturday's All Blacks test.
No other councillors shared Cr Vandervis' concerns at an extraordinary council meeting yesterday and a proposal to close the lower Octagon and part of lower Stuart St from 6am Friday to 11am Sunday was approved.
Cr Vandervis earlier questioned the need for the Octagon to be closed for what he called a "three-day drinkathon'', that would send the wrong message about Dunedin.
"I can see a rationale for closing it from 6am on Saturday to 6am Sunday, but to have it closed from 6am Friday ... seems an exceptionally long time for a two-hour event.''
He was concerned the council was "pushing the bounds'' of legislation allowing for road closures on the proviso they did not "unreasonably'' impede traffic.
Parks and recreation group manager Richard Saunders said the "key reason'' for the length of time was to allow bar owners time to set up extensions to their premises.
Based on previous experience, closing the Octagon would not unreasonably impede traffic.
Cr Vandervis said Mr Saunders' response did not stand up to scrutiny, as the bar owners stated in the application it would only take them six hours to set up marquees and three hours for sound and lighting.
Cr Andrew Noone, who chaired the meeting in Mayor Dave Cull's absence, later pointed out Acting Sergeant Chris Lemon supported the closure of the Octagon due to safety concerns.
Cr Doug Hall, who was on the subcommittee that made the original recommendation, said Sgt Lemon told them police would use their powers to close the road to ensure safety in any case.
Cr David Benson-Pope said closing the Octagon was an important way to enhance the city's offering for what was a "really big event''.
The vote yesterday came after the road stopping subcommittee met last week to discuss the issue after the Regent Theatre opposed the closure over concerns about the safety of patrons going to The Rocky Horror Picture Show film on Saturday night, the same night as the third test against Wales.
The Regent withdrawn from its earlier position at the meeting.
