Click photo to enlarge
Darren Burden
A public viewing platform may be built to accommodate the
interest in the construction of the Forsyth Barr Stadium in
Dunedin.
Carisbrook Stadium Trust development director Darren Burden
said he had been surprised by the number of people stopping
to watch construction activity from the edge of the site
during lunch breaks.
However, with uninterrupted views from Minerva St to be
blocked as construction of the stadium's grandstands
progressed, trust officials were considering other ways to
provide views of the site, he said.
A public viewing platform inside the construction site's
boundary was one idea to be examined in detail within the
next four months, he said.
"We are actually quite taken aback by the number of people
driving down Minerva St and taking a look.
"In many ways, it's quite pleasing that sort of thing is
happening.
There's obviously interest in what's going on down on the
site," he said.
The platform could be built in a position providing the best
possible views as work continued, with free access for the
public, perhaps restricted to daylight hours, he said.
Another idea was to provide viewing holes through the white
fence surrounding most of the site, or to add a public deck
to a marketing suite expected to be built inside the site, he
said.
Health and safety concerns would have to be considered before
any commitment was made to build the platform, but the
preference was to provide for the interest in what was a
public project, he said.
"There's a level of interest there. It's also a public
project. We probably want to be as open as we possibly can."
The only idea not being considered was a suggestion, by Cr
Richard Walls at Monday's full council meeting, that guided
tours be provided to members of the public at $10 a person.
"I think charging for guided tours around a hazardous
construction site is probably a little bit of a distraction,"
Mr Burden said.
However, trust chairman Malcolm Farry said, with the
co-operation of contractors, it was possible an open day
could be considered "at some future time".
What a laugh
A few cars stopping to look makes up the mythical, near elusive 'silent majority', looking at an industrial wasteland. Anyone for watching paint dry, or perhaps icecubes melt? Well, there hasn't been that much to do in Dunedin for the citizen, (unless you happen like rugby, it seems to be the only thing important out of all Dunedin is, to some). This cost sucking place will see to that further, and it seems like already people havent got much to do. Possibly a few come and watch ahast. A legacy in the history of Dunedin under way. If the sun gets in their eyes as they watch, well the rose tinted glasses are already obviously donned. I'm sure they will think once it's built, they'll suggest that people will want to take helicopter rides over it, forget visiting places like the peninsula, or Taieri Gorge Railway, which pale in comparison to a glass behemoth, found anywhere.
Rise up and drive
The quiet majority are turning up in their cars to watch our baby take shape. Not for them the editorials or the legal action. Not for them the placades and the thrusting of unwanted pamphlets into the faces of good citizens on George Street. No, just a good old Kiwi drive to take a look, paying no harm to anyone. The low hum as their vehicles roll along Minerva Street is a whispering nod of ascent to the wonderful project and its development, which will be seen as an important moment in Dunedin's history for generations to come. They know it - I know it, as my car has been there twice already (and will return again). All good citizens of Dunedin, rise up and drive.
details please
what will it cost? and who will pay?