After a long wait, work will start this week preparing the site of Christchurch's new metro sports facility.

The $300 million indoor pool and sports complex will be built on land bordered by Antigua, St Asaph and Stewart sts and Moorhouse Ave.

Metro sports is one of the Crown's blueprint anchor projects for the city and was initially meant to be finished and open this year.

The original budget was $217m.

Government company Otakaro will manage the build, which will be funded jointly by the Crown and Christchurch City Council. The council will own and run the complex when it is completed in 2020.

Council is contributing $147m to the project using insurance proceeds from the lost QEII Park pool and stadium. The Crown is footing the rest of the bill including the land purchase costs.

Most of Balfour St is being closed for the work to start and a new entrance will be created to properties at the remaining western end of the street. The Wilsons car parks on Antigua St will close permanently from next month.

Once the site has been prepared, land remediation will start. Construction of the complex itself is due to start next winter.

Otakaro chief executive Albert Brantley said the location meant construction of metro sports would be prominent, and watching it emerge would be "one of the best shows in town."

The complex will be the largest of its kind in New Zealand.

What will be at metro sports?

10-lane 50m swimming pool, separate diving pool, 1000 spectator seats

Largest leisure pool in the country

Five hydro slides

Learn to swim pool

Aquatic sensory facility

Birthday party room

Warm water pool/spa/sauna/steam room

Multipurpose indoor courts with capacity for nine netball courts

2500 retractable seats in the show court

Gym/weights facility

Group fitness rooms

Performance movement centre

High performance sports centre

Sports House - shared administration area for regional sport

VIP and media areas

Cafe

Childcare facility

 

Source : stuff.co.nz

Report Abuse