Environment Southland has been asked to help fund the rebuilding of Stadium Southland.
At a meeting this week, councillors received a briefing from Steve Canny, of Venture Southland, on the benefits of adding features to the stadium as it was being rebuilt to improve its capacity as a welfare centre in an emergency, as opposed to trying to retrofit them later.
Mr Canny said the stadium could double as a welfare centre in a major emergency and asked the council to consider contributing up to $680,000 towards a stand-alone water supply, water and sewage treatment and solar-powered water heating.
He said people from smaller communities tended to gravitate to local facilities such as schools or community centres in emergencies.
Environment Southland chairwoman Ali Timms said she would like feedback from ratepayers around the region on whether the council should consider putting funds into the stadium, as part of its next long-term plan.
