Wednesday 21 January 2015

Councillors consider views on Nga Puna Wai

Councillors are considering submissions received on Christchurch City Council’s proposal to develop a sports hub at Nga Puna Wai, beginning with public hearings from Tuesday 27 – Wednesday 28 January 2015.

The submissions were gathered during a two-month special consultative procedure held in late-2014, which sought opinions and suggestions about the proposed sports hub from residents, businesses and sporting groups.

The hearings will run from 9am each day, where a panel made up of five Councillors will hear from the 26 submitters who requested a chance to speak. Following these deliberations, and an analysis of the written submissions, the panel will recommend to the full Council whether to proceed with the development.

Nga Puna Wai would combine facilities for a number of sporting disciplines – including an athletics track, hockey turfs, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and sports fields – on a 32-hectare area of Nga Puna Wai, a reserve currently used mainly for livestock grazing and public recreation.

“About 90 per cent of respondents – a total of 4237 – supported the development going ahead at Nga Puna Wai,” says John Filsell, Recreation and Sports Unit Manager.

“The remaining 10 per cent, 488 submitters, did not support the proposal, with most of their concerns being around the A&P Association. The hearings process will give our elected members the chance to really nail down the issues that people had identified before making a final decision. This development is about catering to all of Christchurch and beyond, and these deliberations will help everyone reach the best possible outcome.”

The final decision whether to proceed with the development will be made in March/April 2015.

The Council has committed $6.7 million towards the development of the athletics track and will work with sporting groups to determine their share of any financial contributions to the hub. As the plan proposes to create the hub over 10–30 years, the development of each component can be staged as required.

For more information, please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/NgaPunaWai

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