Parakiore to open late 2025, cost kept secret

Friday, 24 May 2024

Parakiore is under construction in central Christchurch.

Christchurch’s long-delayed Parakiore pool and sports complex should be finished in July and open in October next year, but the final construction cost is being kept secret.

Previously Parakiore was expected to open in early 2025, after a string of on-site and other issues repeatedly stalled progress.

Completion in line with the new forecast, which was released on Friday by Crown infrastructure company Rau Paenga, would see two of the city’s major anchor projects open within six months. Stadium Te Kaha is scheduled to open for business in April 2026.

An artist’s impression of the finished facility

Parakiore’s latest timetable follows a dispute last year between Rau Paenga and Australian contractor CPB Construction.

Last year CPB asked Rau Paenga for another $453 million, on top of the $365m the Crown was expecting to pay. CPB launched legal action against the Crown in a bid to cancel the contract, but later dropped the lawsuit.

Rau Paenga chief executive John O’Hagan said in a statement on Friday he was “cautiously optimistic” about CPB’s latest forecast, based on the contractor’s past performance on the project. He said construction is 80% completed.

“There are some dedicated people working very hard on the site right now and the path to a July 2025 completion is achievable, if CPB resources and manages the project appropriately,” he said.

“I have personally stressed to CPB’s leadership the weight of community expectation that is on it to complete this highly-anticipated facility.”

O’Hagan said while he was disappointed construction could not be completed earlier, having to fight CPB’s legal challenges “would not see Parakiore finished any sooner”.

Parakiore will have pools, water slides and other sporting facilities.(Artist’s render)

“The most productive course of action now is to focus on achieving this date.”

He said a total cost would be provided after completion.

“While I appreciate this is a little unconventional not to share a forecast cost, given the past tensions, ongoing discussions around the nature of the live contract and the levers we have to drive performance, it is prudent for us to maintain a strong commercial position for this last portion of the build.”

CPB started work in March 2019 after winning the build-only contract at a price of $220m, promising to complete the job by October 2021. This figure later rose to $301m, and then $365m.

The original project, announced in 2013, was to cost $217m.

Christchurch City Council has contributed a capped sum of $148m, and will also put in money to fit out the facility.

Sport Canterbury chief executive Julyan Falloon said a late 2025 opening was “a bit later than we thought”, but understandable after the legal wrangling and other complications.

“We’ve had dates repeatedly over the years. I hope to God that this will be it.”

Falloon said a reliable date was important for any group bidding to host a national or international sporting event in the city.

“The faster they have a date, the faster they can bid for events to come to Christchurch. They can star planning for training and meetings and competitions.”

Parakaiore will have a 10-lane, 50m pool with 1000 seats for spectators, a diving pool, five hydroslides, and several indoor courts for various sports.