The day was marked by the reading of some extremely long submissions, though four members of the public managed - stoically - to sit through proceedings.
The large number of property owners potentially affected by the planned harbour arterial route was also made clear.
In the morning, council counsel Lauren Semple called on Carisbrook Stadium Trust development director Darren Burden to explain the stadium's roof structure, as none of the commissioners appeared to have a clear idea of the construction of the ethylene tetraflouroethylene roof.
Dr Jeremy Trevathan began evidence for the council on noise - existing noise, potential noise, sporting and non-sporting noise, and reverse sensitivity to noise at the site.
He said if the stadium zone was adopted while existing district-plan rules remained, the operation of the stadium would be severely restricted.
Other stadiums in New Zealand operated under rules allowing a limited number of events a year, and a similar rule had been drafted for the Otago Stadium.
Reverse sensitivity problems in the area were "insignificant".
Responding to submissions, he said noise would not preclude educational activities in the campus zone, as events were limited in number and duration, and their timing was unlikely to coincide with campus operating times.
One submitter was concerned noise would cause disturbance in Vauxhall and Opoho, and Dr Trevathan said there was no question noise during events would be audible at some distance from the site.
Rules limiting noise had been proposed in the plan.
Dr Trevathan was subjected to repeated questioning from the commissioners on his findings.
Asked how noise rules could work during an event such as a rock concert, he said it was a council enforcement issue, but appeared to struggle to convince commissioners the rules would be workable.
Council acting planning policy manager Paul Freeland also dealt with some of the 220 public submissions during his evidence.
He said the loss of 6.9ha of industrial land might be mitigated by using the 3ha at the old Carisbrook stadium site, and a council study had shown the city had 179ha of unused, industrially zoned land.
There was limited potential for reverse sensitivity, and negligible effect on retailers elsewhere from commercial activity at the stadium.
Complaints from submitters that consultation on the stadium had been inadequate "surprised" Mr Freeland, as, apart from extensive discussion in the media, information had been available from a variety of sources, and surveys and consultation had taken place.
"I also note that this plan change does not commit anyone to building a stadium in the stadium zone, either now, or in the future."
What it would do was allow the development of the site for a variety of uses.
Mr Freeland went through a list of 23 items in Stop the Stadium's submission, and dismissed most of them.
He concluded, though, by saying while he remained of the view the plan change should be approved, he accepted amendments would be beneficial in some areas.
The council's plans for the arterial route would take traffic from the end of the southern motorway, down Strathallen St and Fryatt St, along the rail corridor to Frederick St, where it would cross the railway line on a "gyratory" that would send northbound traffic up Frederick St, before connecting with the one-way system north.
Anzac Ave would be closed at Frederick St.
Traffic heading towards the stadium or Port Chalmers will travel beside the rail corridor and behind the stadium, connecting with State Highway 88, if the stadium plan-change becomes operative.
Reading from her 77-page report, council planner Jane Macleod told the committee the arterial route meant land would be required that was at present used for the skateboard park, car parking, Shell's bulk terminal site, and a portion of the rear of a series of industrial properties on Parry St.
One hundred and four submissions supported the proposal, 86 opposed, and five were either neutral or indicated partial support or opposition.
Despite the high number of potentially affected sites, only three submissions were received on the effects of displacement.
Two were received on the need to relocate the skateboard park.
Discussions with Shell had resulted in changes meaning a far smaller amount of the company's land would be needed.
Ms Macleod will continue her evidence today.
