ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Ms Megan Woods, the new Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, has announced a new plan for the new sports facility in the Garden City after it was revealed the long-delayed project was expected to exceed its budget by $75 million under the current approach.
“As an incoming Minister, I have been conducting a thorough review of progress on the anchor projects and to learn of a $75 million budget blow-out on this project was very disappointing. That is an undue burden on taxpayers and ratepayers for a project that is already significantly delayed – in fact, the facility was due to be opened by now, yet construction has not even begun,” the Minister said.
“That’s why I am cancelling early contractor involvement and have instructed officials to undertake urgent work to get this project back on track. I have asked for two pieces of work– the first is for Otakaro to complete the detailed design work itself and get ready to go out for a new build-only contract. This will be completed by March/April 2018, allowing for the facility to be opened in the first quarter of 2021 if we proceed with this contract. I have also asked officials to use this time to partner with the Christchurch City Council on an urgent review of options for the project such as whether it would be beneficial to combine part or all of the Metro Sports Facility with the proposed Multi Use Arena,” she added.
“I am determined that we see progress in our city. There is a whole generation of kids who have grown up without a place to develop their sporting potential. I'm not prepared to keep doing the same things over and over and expect a different outcome,” the Minister later wrote in one of her facebook posts.
Ms Megan Woods, the new Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, has announced a new plan for the new sports facility in the Garden City after it was revealed the long-delayed project was expected to exceed its budget by $75 million under the current approach.
“As an incoming Minister, I...
Ms Megan Woods, the new Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, has announced a new plan for the new sports facility in the Garden City after it was revealed the long-delayed project was expected to exceed its budget by $75 million under the current approach.
“As an incoming Minister, I have been conducting a thorough review of progress on the anchor projects and to learn of a $75 million budget blow-out on this project was very disappointing. That is an undue burden on taxpayers and ratepayers for a project that is already significantly delayed – in fact, the facility was due to be opened by now, yet construction has not even begun,” the Minister said.
“That’s why I am cancelling early contractor involvement and have instructed officials to undertake urgent work to get this project back on track. I have asked for two pieces of work– the first is for Otakaro to complete the detailed design work itself and get ready to go out for a new build-only contract. This will be completed by March/April 2018, allowing for the facility to be opened in the first quarter of 2021 if we proceed with this contract. I have also asked officials to use this time to partner with the Christchurch City Council on an urgent review of options for the project such as whether it would be beneficial to combine part or all of the Metro Sports Facility with the proposed Multi Use Arena,” she added.
“I am determined that we see progress in our city. There is a whole generation of kids who have grown up without a place to develop their sporting potential. I'm not prepared to keep doing the same things over and over and expect a different outcome,” the Minister later wrote in one of her facebook posts.
Leave a Comment