Feedback on the future use of Eden Park by Albert-Eden Local Board will now be considered alongside other submissions ahead of the central government decision-making process.
The local board presented its position on proposed changes to planning rules around events at the venue, outlined in a Ministry of Environment report, at council’s Planning, Policy and Development Committee this week.
Consultation on the proposals was held between 5-19 November and the final outcome will be decided by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop.
Albert-Eden Local Board chair Margi Watson says the board doesn’t oppose the delivery of additional concerts at Eden Park, but has questions around the best way to manage this.
“We await the feedback from the Minister, and we’re hopeful our input is given full consideration,” she explains.
“Albert-Eden Local Board fully supports the growth of Eden Park and understands the wide-ranging social and economic benefits of additional events for New Zealand’s largest outdoor venue.
“We are taking a collaborative approach but have flagged areas that need to be explored.
“There needs to be a comprehensive review of the traffic management plans to ensure travel is less-disrupted, and there are other concerns such as the retention of domestic cricket.”
The board passed a resolution highlighting its feedback at a recent business meeting. The key points were:
- Provision of a more diverse use of the stadium, such as displays and exhibitions, markets, fairs, trade fairs, and cultural and community events.
- Providing for 12 ‘large’ concerts (over 30,000 attendees) and suggest retaining the cap on the number of different acts as this will minimise the adverse effects of more pack-in/pack-out days.
- Lifting the restriction that states functions, meetings and conferences must not exceed 2,000 people.
- Extending the hours and pushing the curfew out to 10.30pm for sporting formats, 11pm for concerts and midnight for lighting.
The local board also detailed questions around changes to provide for 20 ‘medium’ concerts (between 10,000 and 30,000 attendees) per year as permitted activities, due to potential adverse local impacts.
They also highlighted the likely effect of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) given Sandringham Road’s role as a main arterial and public transport route, citing disruption and the need to ensure all bus routes remain available during events.
Council’s Planning, Policy and Development Committee voted on its feedback, which will also be sent to the Minister ahead of a final decision.
This includes:
- Auckland Council supports, in principle, the facilitation of additional events at Eden Park. The council acknowledges the significant economic, social, and cultural benefits, as well as the broader community opportunities, that Eden Park and the events held at the stadium provide for Auckland and New Zealand, including contributions to local vibrancy and cultural connection.
- The council also seeks to work collaboratively with the Minister for Resource Management Act Reform and the Ministry for the Environment on the development of new planning provisions for the Eden Park precinct.
- As part of these provisions, the council requests that the Minister require Eden Park to maintain an Operating Management Plan, outlining in detail how events will be managed. This plan should include the management of transport and traffic, community consultation and communications, event operations, crowd management, and noise management.
The next steps are for the Minister to consider any response by the local authority when deciding whether to recommend that regulations be made (changing the Auckland Unitary Plan) under section 360I, RMA.
The resolved position of the local board can be read in detail.
