Stop the Stadium members (from left) Garry Boag, Bev Butler and John Harris hope Saturday’s ‘‘white elephant’’ march will stop the Otago Stadium plan in its tracks.
Intense behind-the-scenes discussions and public lobbying will mark the last week and a-half before the Dunedin City and Otago Regional Councils deliver their final decisions on whether or not to support the planned $188 million, multi-use, covered arena at Awatea St, near Logan Park.
Stop the Stadium president Bev Butler hopes the group's ‘‘white elephant'' protest on Saturday will be one of the biggest marches the city has seen.
Carisbrook Stadium Trust chairman Malcolm Farry says all the investigative work points towards the DCC and ORC being able to make a positive decision.
DCC councillors meet to decide the fate of the stadium on February 9.
ORC councillors meet two days later.
If the councils vote in favour of the stadium, they will make a combined contribution of $129 million, sourced from rates and dividends from council companies.
At noon on Saturday, protesters will march from the University of Otago Dental School up George St to the Octagon ‘‘to signal again to councillors that the majority of people in Dunedin don't want the stadium,'' Ms Butler said.
A University of Otago survey released this month showed 78 per cent of those surveyed who had an opinion about the stadium were opposed to it.
The number of marchers was likely to be much greater than the 1000 who marched against the stadium last year, Ms Butler said.
‘‘We now have 1500 members and public opinion has shifted even further against the stadium.''
The march will feature a 2m-high, MDF-board white elephant and protesters carrying elephant-shaped placards.
DCC conditions for supporting the stadium were tightened late last year.
The conditions include that the trust show it has a minimum of 60 per cent of the required $45.5 million of private-sector funding and the council has to be satisfied with the progress on the balance and any bridging finance that has to be raised.
Mr Farry said the final decision rested with the DCC and ORC councillors.
‘‘I believe strongly that we have provided sufficient information for them to make an informed decision,'' Mr Farry said.
‘‘Our analysis is that this significant project has had enough research and investigation to allow the decision to be a positive one.''
Asked whether the stadium trust could satisfy all the council conditions, Mr Farry said most of the important elements were in place and he felt comfortable about proceeding.
‘‘If the discussion becomes pedantic, maybe some elements don't fit neatly into the timetable,'' he said.
One matter remaining ahead of the councils' votes was whether the Community Trust of Otago would be able to make the $10 million grant the trust hoped for.
Community Trust of Otago chief executive Keith Ellwood said a public announcement was likely within two weeks.
