Christchurch council offers secret sum in bid to buy park from cash-strapped Woolston Club
Friday, 12 June 2026
Christchurch City Council has offered to buy a Woolston sports ground put up for sale by its cash-strapped owner.
The council will not say how much ratepayers’ money it was proposing to spend to secure Garrick Park, the home ground of Cashmere Technical Football Club (CTFC).
The ground, which was owned by the Woolston Club and leased to Christchurch City Council for 10 years, was put on the market in March.
The Woolston Club was seeking an urgent sale as it was “facing sustained financial pressure”.
The council previously refused to confirm whether it had put in an offer, but CTFC emailed its members this week, saying the Woolston Club was holding a special meeting on June 22 to approve the sale of Garrick Park to the council.
CTFC urged its members who were also members of the Woolston Club to attend the meeting and vote.
“This is a significant decision for the future of our club and facilities, and we encourage as many members as possible to attend and participate in the vote.”
The decision was intended to help secure the long-term future of the club, the CTFC board and management said in the email.
“Please make every effort to be there - we need you!“
The council refused to comment again on Thursday.
The park, on Hargood St, is part of 4.75ha of land being sold, which includes an adjoining car park. According to the listing, the package has a capital value of $1.3 million. It is zoned for housing, big enough for a subdivision with about 70 homes.
The deadline sale closed on March 31.
Before the deadline, Colliers agent Courtney Doig said there had been good interest in the site from community groups, local housing developers, schools and church groups.
The council holds a 10-year lease over the park.
In February, the Woolston Club board sent a confidential letter to members saying the club was “facing sustained financial pressure” in the face of significantly increased operating and maintenance costs, and revenue had not kept pace.
This led to ongoing financial strain, dwindling cash reserves, deferred essential maintenance and another upcoming financial loss, the letter said.
As well as trying to boost membership and revenue, the club would sell Garrick Park to raise cash for overdue repairs and maintenance, and to reinvest in the club “to stabilise the club’s financial position” and “provide working capital”, the letter said.
The club recently sold its adjacent bowling greens and pavilion for $750,000 to the St Albans Park Sports Club. The sale settled last year.
Woolston Club general manager Mark McGuinness could not be reached for comment on Thursday. In March he said the club was trying to find a buyer that allowed the green space to stay, but it might go to a property developer.
The Woolston Club opened in 1956 and has bar, restaurant, meeting, entertainment and sports facilities. It has about 2500 members.