Upgrade for stadium plaza

Plans for the plaza beside the Forsyth Barr Stadium are being scaled up, after the University of Otago decided it wanted the area to "make a statement".

The stadium complex - officially titled Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza - was always going to feature a plaza as part of the stadium and university building development.

However, Dunedin Venues Management Ltd chief executive David Davies confirmed plans for the plaza were being redrawn by the university to include a "superior" finish, rather than the "standard" design.

That was because the university wanted the area to "make a statement", Mr Davies told a Dunedin City Council finance and strategy committee meeting this week.

The cost of the original plaza design - which, once completed, was to be owned in common by the council and university - was covered by the stadium's construction budget, but not the additional cost of an upgraded plaza design, he said.

Discussions between the university and council were continuing over who "foots the bill" for the additional cost, he told the meeting.

It was not known what would be included in the new plaza design, or what it would cost, and university staff were not prepared to discuss either yesterday.

University property services director Barry MacKay did not return calls and a spokeswoman said it was not possible to arrange an interview with him.

Mr MacKay later released a statement, saying only it was "too early to comment, as the planning stage of the University Plaza is still under way".

"When plans are finalised, we will be able to discuss details."

However, Mr Davies told the Otago Daily Times it was expected the university would meet all of the additional costs involved.

"The university aspires to a better finish . . . There will be a discussion about cost of superior finishing and how much they are going to have to step up to the plate to make up the shortfall.

"The university wants a better finish and therefore they are going to have to pay for it," he said.

The original plaza design had been "suitably vague" to allow room for changes once design plans for the university's building were confirmed, which happened last December, he said.

"They have got that about right and they are now working into the plaza . . . It seems a logical way to do it," he said.

He had not seen any detailed designs, and did not know what the plans included, but believed they were being worked on by university staff.

Unveiling the university's design for its building at the stadium site, vice-chancellor Prof Sir David Skegg said it would be "one of the most exciting developments on campus for decades".

No precise budget for the building has been released, but the university had earlier indicated the project might cost $50 million.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz