Thursday, 10 December 2015

Stage-one vision for Nga Puna Wai released

Christchurch City Council has released a shared vision for stage one of the major new sports hub planned for Nga Puna Wai reserve near Wigram.

The Council’s Recreation and Sports Unit Manager, John Filsell, says the Council is continuing to work hand-in-hand with Sport New Zealand, Sport Canterbury, Canterbury Hockey, Tennis Canterbury, Canterbury Rugby League and the local community to bring the hub's shared vision to life.

The multi-million-dollar project will combine facilities for a number of sporting codes, including an athletics track, two water-based hockey turfs, 12 outdoor tennis courts, one enclosed outdoor rugby league arena and general-purpose grass sports pitches.

The hub will be a staged development over the next 10 to 30 years, with stage-one construction expected to get under way in mid-2016.

"During last year's public consultation we received an overwhelmingly positive signal from the community that a sports hub at Nga Puna Wai was in Christchurch's future," says Mr Filsell. "Ninety per cent of the more than 4,700 submissions we received were in favour.

"The Council and its project partners are now taking that forward, working in sync with residents, sports organisations and international best practice to realise a world-class sporting facility for our city.

"The stage-one masterplan sets out the design for the best possible use of the land at Nga Puna Wai, and provides the starting point for a process that will see the sporting community turning the first sod within the next 12 months, which is very exciting."

Darron Charity, Relationship Manager for Sport New Zealand, says the project is an innovative, forward-looking and ambitious response for Canterbury.

"It represents how different thinking can allow the Canterbury region to emerge stronger and better able to cater to existing need, as well as predicted growth in sport and active recreation," he says.

More information about Nga Puna Wai and a copy of the stage-one masterplan report is available on the Council's website.

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