PRESS RELEASE

Massey University the logical location for the Albany Aquatic Centre

The North Shore City Council (NSCC) is wilfully ignoring the real costs of locating the Albany Aquatic Centre at North Harbour Stadium while locating the facility at Massey University Auckland campus will have logical, tangible and measurable cost benefits for ratepayers and the community.

Massey University is a major contributor to the North Shore economy in terms of jobs created and direct spending. Massey has done everything asked by the NSCC on this project but there seems to be a faction that is determined to locate the facility at North Harbour Stadium said Michael Wynd, President of Albany Students’ Association.

Locating the facility at Massey University’s Auckland campus is the only way that NSCC can meet its present capital budget of $14 million. Locating at Massey will save expenditure in the provision of a fitness centre as the existing Recreation Centre on campus will be incorpated into the Aquatic centre. If the Massey University option is used, building, equipment, and staffing costs will be reduced considerably or eliminated. Furthermore, locating at the Auckland campus will mean that a purpose built cricket oval at North Harbour Stadium is not overbuilt with car parking because the campus has sufficient space for parking presently and can expand if required.

Some spurious claims have been used by proponents of the North Harbour Stadium option to support their claims. Firstly, it is claimed that the general public will not come onto the campus. This is not true as the campus hosts many events currently that the general public visit the campus for. This is based on Australian research and has no relation to the reality of the Auckland campus. Secondly, access to the campus is readily available through the present access gates and the need for a specific entrance of the aquatic centre is a ludicrous proposal.

The Albany Students' Association believes the NSCC should not throw good money after bad in supporting North Harbour Stadium when the Council should be seen to be supporting Massey University. To this effect, Albany Students' Association has organised an on-line petition in support of the Massey University option for North Shore residents at www.asa.ac.nz/petition

ENDS

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