The Star: January 25, 2024

The Star Thursday January 25 2024
4
NEWS
• Turn to page 4
Mauger insisted the study by
ChristchurchNZ – the city’s
economic development agency –
was not a precursor to an official
bid to host New Zealand’s first
Commonwealth Games since
Auckland in 1990 in either 2030
or beyond.
“This is simply asking staff for
advice, for them to come back
to us on what venues we have
and may need, accommodations
costs, environment impacts. It is
not asking for a formal business
case,” he said.
“This could be a great opportunity
for our city so we need
independent advice to consider it
properly. That advice may say it’s
a fizzer, but at least we’ve looked
at it. If you don’t ask, we won’t
know.”
Mauger said the Games events
could be spread throughout the
South Island, suggesting the
cycling velodrome in Invercargill
could be utilised.
“We don’t need a velodrome
built here. We don’t have to go
nuts and spend a fortune. We’ve
still got the town hall, which had
the weightlifting for 1974.”
Restore Passenger Rail
spokesperson Aurora Garner-
Randolph spearheaded debate
from the public gallery, asking
how the city council could
investigate hosting the Games
a month after some councillors
advocated asset sales to address
financial concerns.
“At what point from the asset
sales vote did we acquire the
cash to host an extravagant
tea party and invite the entire
Commonwealth?”
“Again we’re debating another
ridiculous proposition that
would not benefit the average
Christchurch resident. It’s
a costly, environmentally
damaging project that would
quite likely bankrupt our
council.”
Labelling Mauger’s interest
as a “vanity project” Garner-
Randolph noted potential
Canadian host city Alberta
shelved a bid to host the 2030
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Games attempt ‘an extravagant tea party’
MONEY TALKS: A member
of the public throws fake
cash in opposition to Mayor
Phil Mauger’s interest in
Christchurch hosting the
Commonwealth Games for
a second time.
Games when the cost was
estimated at $3.3 billion.
Moore was concerned
about public perception given
revelations of imminent hikes.
“If the next day they see the
council are exploring a bid for
the Commonwealth Games,
people struggling to pay their
bills will feel fear. The time is not
right,” he said.
Added Templeton: “It is
probably possible but we need to
be realistic. The question is not
‘could we?’ but ‘should we?’ host
the Games.
“The answer is clearly no.
Many cities larger than us
have taken a look at hosting in
recent years, cities with much
bigger populations and better
infrastructure already in place.
“They declined the
opportunity because of the cost.
The bid cost alone for the 2022
Games (in Birmingham, UK)
cost 20 million pounds and I’m
sure we can find a much better
use of $42 million.”
Templeton also pointed out the
city council did not have
“a particularly good
track record of signing
up to expensive projects
and expecting others to
pay for them”.
To that end, councillors
voted unanimously
to send a letter to the
Waimakariri and
Dan Gordon
ICONIC IMAGE:
Dick Tayler
crosses the
line to claim
Commonwealth
Games gold
in the men’s
10,000-metres
final at QEII Park
in 1974.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Would
the Commonwealth
Games be good for the
city? Email in 200 words or
less barry@starmedia.kiwi
Selwyn district councils and Environment
Canterbury seeking
a financial contribution towards
the construction of the Te Kaha
– Christchurch Stadium.
Waimakariri Mayor Dan
Gordon told The Star he did
anticipate a request but said
funds had not been earmarked.
“There is no funding put aside
or anticipated in our
Long Term Plan for this,”
he said.
“Any potential
contribution from
Waimakariri District
Council would need to be
subject to full community
consultation before any
decision was made.”
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