DVML

Failings within the Dunedin City Council are to be scrutinised after an independent review criticised budget blowouts and unauthorised spending within the Forsyth Barr Stadium construction project.

A fresh round of cost-cutting is under way at the Dunedin City Council as it scrambles to cover a projected $2.4 million loss by the company running the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has "stooped to innuendo and baseless allegations" in commenting about funding arrangements for Forsyth Barr Stadium, Carisbrook Stadium Trust (CST) chairman Malcolm Farry says.

Otago Rugby Football Union board members Wayne Graham and Laurie Mains are together seeking more than $1 million in damages from Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull over allegations of defamation, court documents show.

The Dunedin City Council says it will be forced to consider more funding to help the company running the Forsyth Barr Stadium overcome a nearly $2 million loss and debt-servicing costs it cannot afford to pay.

Dunedin City Council's decision to instigate a review of Forsyth Barr Stadium and the company tasked with running it, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd, is the correct one.

The man tasked with making a success of Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium is resigning and will return to England.

Scantily clad women enticing rugby fans at Forsyth Barr Stadium to a Dunedin pub has come as a surprise to the venue's management.

The Dunedin City Council will have a permanent presence at future Otago Rugby Football Union board meetings, after councillors yesterday appointed an observer to help avoid any future "train-wrecks".

Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies says he is prepared to work with the Otago Rugby Football Union (ORFU) if it is struggling to pay for the cost of playing at Forsyth Barr Stadium.