More ideas for the future of Carisbrook are rolling in, but the Southern Rugby Football Club hopes housing on Bathgate Park is not an option.
Readers who contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday, mostly threw their support behind a suggestion to build affordable social housing on Bathgate Park while switching sports to Carisbrook.
The idea was floated by Dunedin resource management consultant Don Anderson at Monday night's meeting to discuss Carisbrook's future.
Southern premier team manager Mike Reggett, whose club is based at the ground, dismissed the idea as "pie in the sky" and "a massively backward step" when contacted yesterday.
Bathgate Park had been home to houses alongside Helena St until they were demolished in the 1960s to free up green space, he said.
The park was home to the rugby club, but was also the headquarters for T-Ball in summer, and had been used as a training ground by representative rugby teams "since I can remember", he said.
It had space for three rugby fields, doubling to six for younger grades on Saturdays, he said.
Carisbrook had just one rugby pitch.
"Six into one doesn't go very well, does it?"Mr Reggett said he had not spoken to Mr Anderson about the idea, but would wait to hear from the council if the idea was to be developed.
"We as a tenant, to put it bluntly, have to basically go where we're told.
"But I would be surprised if it happened in my lifetime. It would be a massively backward step."
The council bought Carisbrook and surrounding properties for $7 million last year, and has given itself until October next year, when the Otago Rugby Football Union quits the site, to devise a plan for its future.
Mr Anderson was among 10 speakers at Monday's meeting, which was attended by about 40 people - about half of them from the council - and was a first step in public consultation on the old venue's future.
The majority of readers to contact the ODT yesterday supported Mr Anderson's idea, but other ideas also won approval.
Alistair Mackay said Carisbrook should be sold, and the money used to pay back the loans taken to buy it.
"The new owner could put Carisbrook to productive use, perhaps as industrial land, providing jobs and contributing to the city's economy."
Steve Jeffery said the ground's floodlights should be transferred to the University Oval cricket ground.
Lesley Lapham said the city did not need new housing, but turning Carisbrook into a deep pool would encourage more sporting activities including water polo, kayaking, diving and swim training.
Karen Dehn said retaining Carisbrook would provide space for fireworks displays, motocross "daredevils" and "any other thing that can't be done inside".
Bob Grant said it would be "an awful waste" to lose Carisbrook after such investment in its surface, while Ron Ikin wanted Carisbrook turned into an education site, or used for cricket.
