Poll: What should the city council do about Christchurch's new stadium budget blow-out?
From reporter Steven Walton:
Christchurch’s 30,000-seat stadium, Te Kaha, has blown its budget by at least another $50 million, Stuff understands.
City councillors will soon have to decide whether they either increase the $533m budget once again, head back to the drawing board or pause the project.
Council staff are refusing to comment on the spiralling costs, saying more information will be available in the coming weeks.
But the council has advised the Treasury of issues with the budget, a spokesperson for the Government department said. Read more here.
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71.3% Increase the budget and get it finished
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5.5% Pause the project, wait and see
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19.5% Head back to the drawing board
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3.8% I'm not sure/something else (share your thoughts in the comments below)
Poll: Is the increase in disability parking fines fair?
In October, the fine for parking in a designated mobility car park without a permit has jumped from $150 to $750—a 400% increase!
The goal is to keep these spaces open for those who truly need them. Do you think this big increase in the fine is fair? Share your thoughts below.
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89.1% Yes, it's fair
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10.3% No, it's unreasonable
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0.7% Other - I'll share below
Cyclists forced to use ‘more dangerous’ crossing if cycleway closed
Closing a Christchurch cycleway to avoid an unsafe rail crossing will lead cyclists across an even “more dangerous” crossing, cycling advocates say.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has weighed in on the issue, calling the move to shut a 1.5km section of the Heathcote Expressway for up to two years, “illogical”. He has asked KiwiRail to explain.
KiwiRail is demanding Christchurch City Council close part of the expressway until $6.5 million worth of safety improvements can be made to the Scruttons Rd rail crossing.
It said the “unsafe” crossing posed the risk of death or serious injury once every thousand years.
What do you do think? Read the full story by reporters Sinead Gill and Tina Law here and tell us what you think in the comments. (A subscription is required, but you can see two free articles a month).
Peonys Saturday 2nd Nov
Hi all...Sorry have run out of peonys today. Will update on here as soon as some bunches arrive at Oakland Street tomorrow