News

The Otago University has still not had to pay for the University Plaza building located in front of the stadium, despite using it since the start of the year.

The Unipol recreation complex has been open since mid-January and has had massive numbers of students from the University and Polytech through its doors to take part in sporting activities and marvel at its vomit-green walls.

However, the University is yet to pay its share of the Stadium and Plaza complex because the ultimate cost of the project still hasn’t been finalised. As mentioned in last week’s Critic, the Dunedin City Council has brought in expensive accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to find out how much the big white lunch box actually cost.

Critic understands that the University’s services housed at the Plaza are in no danger of being discontinued.

The University entered into a “cost-sharing mechanism” with Dunedin Venues Management Ltd and the Carisbrook Stadium Trust before construction on the Forsyth Barr stadium commenced. When we last checked the Stadium costs had ballooned to over $200 million.

These events have got Stop The Stadium campaigner Bev Butler even more riled up than she already was. Butler is now calling for a full review of the Stadium project.

An interesting parallel can be drawn between the zeal with which the University chases down any outstanding fees from students, and the lax attitude with which it has gone about paying for its shiny new toy. Maybe the University should be locked out of Blackboard and have its exam results withheld until its bills are paid.
Critic approached a Unipol user to find out her views on the situation. “As long as the gym is still here so I can shift tin and smash protein shakes I don’t care who pays for it”.