It's finally happening - Christchurch's Metro sports facility build starts

Friday, 31 August 2018

Work to prepare the Metro Sports Facility site for construction is now under way.

Construction has started on Christchurch's long-delayed metro sports facility.

Groundwork contractor March Menard Joint Venture began installing the first of about 8000 in-ground stone columns om Friday, in preparation for main construction work to begin early 2019.

The $300 million central city anchor project, on a site bordered by St Asaph and Antigua streets and Moorhouse Ave, was put on hold last November due to a dispute over the design and build contract, before going through a Government review resulting in a trimmed-back version of the facility.

Contractor March Menard JV is installing about 8000 stone columns as supports for the build.

Ōtākaro chief executive John Bridgman said contractors would place about a dozen stone columns over the next week then test these, before beginning full scale installation at the start of October.

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Updated artists impressions of the metro sports facility, a Christchurch anchor project.

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* Groundworks to start for Christchurch's Metro Sports Facility

An earlier artist's impression of Christchurch's planned metro sports facility before the design was pared back.

* Christchurch to get trimmed-back metro sports centre – with roofed stadium likely**

Bridgman said four 80-tonne cranes would be on site six days a week to get the site ready by April.

Work has started on Christchurch's metro sports facility.

He hoped having physical work under way would give people confidence they could use facility in future.

The facility was originally due to open at the start of 2016. The latest proposed completion date is late 2021.

The main build contractor is yet to be confirmed. Bridgman previously said there has been 'strong interest' in the contract.

'The feedback we have from the market is we've done a good job with the contract and set the project up for success … the contractors we've got lining up are high calibre organisations.'

The build-only contract is different from the previous design and build agreement with Leighs Cockram Joint Venture, which Ōtākaro ended over the allocation of risk and a $75m budget blowout in November – though Leighs Cockram disputed exactly why the deal fell over.

The Government reviewed the project earlier this year, which included looking at combining it with a stadium, before confirming a trimmed-back version would go ahead. Cosmetic changes and an altered contract process had reportedly carved at least $50m from the total price.

The facility includes:

• 10 lane 50m competition pool plus movable 1.5m wide boom.

• 1000 aquatic spectator seats.

• 20m x 25m diving pool.

• Aquatic leisure facility.

• Five hydroslides.

• Learn to swim pool.

• Warm water pool/spa/sauna/steam room.

• Birthday party room.

• Multipurpose indoor courts with capacity for nine netball courts and other indoor sports.

• 2500 retractable spectator seats in the show court.

• Gym/weights facility.

• Group fitness rooms.

• Allied health facilities.

• Performance movement centre.

• Aquatic sensory space.

• High performance sports centre with facilities for coaching and training.

• Sports House – shared administration area for regional sport.

• Facility administration areas.

• VIP and media areas.

• Café and supporting satellite food and beverage facilities.

• Facility parking (550 parks approx).