Stadium opponent and Stop the Stadium vice-president Peter Entwisle, who, along with Elizabeth Kerr and Rosemary McQueen have been the only members of the public to selflessly sit through the entire hearing, told the committee there had been claims of self-interest and corruption in relation to the stadium.
"I do not share that view."
Mr Farry was acting in good faith, and the city owed him a debt of gratitude for his actions, even though, Mr Entwisle said, he disagreed with the project.
The project and its backers were also defended by Farry family members, through a submission by Malcolm Farry's brother, Richard, who attacked the tactics of stadium opponents.
Consultant planner Andrew Henderson appeared for a group of seven stadium opponents, and said it would be unfortunate if the plan change was done in such haste it was not as robust as it could be.
Mr Henderson argued there had been changes to the notice of requirement since it was notified, including that vehicle access along Anzac Ave would be physically impossible.
That change was significant, and people may have lodged submissions about it if they had known, meaning the commissioners may consider re-notification.
He said the conference activities at the stadium would take away from those at the Dunedin Centre.
There had not been a clear assessment of that, and the Resource Management Act required an evaluation of the costs and benefits of rule changes.
Mr Henderson spent some time on traffic issues, and said there had been no assessment of media parking requirements, and no provision for bus parking.
"Not everyone can drive or walk to the stadium."
Mr Entwisle said Dunedin had been told it would die if the Aramoana aluminium smelter was not built, as it was with the stadium.
It had not been built, and the city had survived.
Despite claims the stadium would help the university grow, no studies had been undertaken to prove that.
He said despite the council's "voluminous" evidence, there had not been a solitary word about the adverse effects of taking stadium events from South Dunedin.
"What effect will it have on the area's social wellbeing and its sense of pride?"Again, it seems unlikely to be positive."
Rosemary McQueen said the arterial route would encroach on the rail corridor, inhibiting the possible future enhancement of rail, and she asked for the notice of requirement to be rejected.
Elizabeth Kerr said the gyratory cutting Anzac Ave at Frederick St would form a major barrier between the city and harbourside, and should be abandoned in favour of the Ward St overbridge.
She advocated more recognition of Anzac Ave as a ceremonial route in the district plan, and said there had been no independent assessment of the heritage values of the properties affected by the notice of requirement, something that should be undertaken "as soon as possible".
Mr Matthews said there were arguments there would be increased peace and quiet on Anzac Ave if it was closed, and asked Ms Kerr what she thought about that.
Ms Kerr said: "I'd like to see the road used as a road in this particular part of the city."
Richard Farry, senior partner of Farry and Co Law, and Malcolm Farry's brother, said those who had opposed the stadium during local body elections "were soundly dumped".
Reports that some intended to appeal to the Environment Court if the plan change was approved was "a blatant and serious abuse of process", he said.
Neville Poole said some of "the people we let into this country" might target lpg storage facilities near the stadium in an act of terrorism.
He said lpg containers had exploded by accident before, and could again.
For Chalmers Properties, the property arm of Port Otago, traffic engineer Tony Penny said the company supported the arterial route notice of requirement, providing amendments were made.
Those included that more detail of the gyratory be provided to show it would be safe, and would not affect nearby properties, that traffic lights be provided on the arterial route near Mason St and Ward Sts to provide access to the harbourside, and access provided at Fryatt and Birch Sts.
He also brought up problems he saw with the design of the gyratory.
