Status Quo for Stadium PA System

Dunedin (Wednesday, 20 May 2015) – A new PA system for the Forsyth Barr Stadium is not able to be accommodated in current budgets, the Dunedin City Council has decided.

A DCC staff report, discussed in non public today as part of the Long Term Plan deliberations, was withdrawn following a proposed alternative put forward by Dunedin Venues Management Limited (DVML) Chief Executive Terry Davies.

Mr Davies says, “We appreciate the Council has other funding priorities. We will continue with our current measures, which are adequate, and look at reprioritising our renewals programme to find a more permanent answer.”

The need to improve the Stadium’s PA system has been discussed by DVML and the DCC since the Stadium opened in August 2011.

Mr Davies says DCC interest savings this year meant DVML had hoped a new PA system could be accommodated. However, given the pressures on the DCC budget, it became clear this could not be funded.

DCC Group Chief Financial Officer Grant McKenzie says, “The DCC is well aware the PA system needs to be upgraded. We will continue to work with DVML to try to find a solution.”

At its meeting, the Council noted and accepted the proposed alternative solution that involved reprioritising the renewals programme. The Council commended Mr Davies and DCC staff on their work to achieve this outcome, and authorised the release of the redacted report.

The DCC report and the attached DVML report, which have been redacted for commercial reasons, are attached.

ENDS

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