Christchurch stadium design to be workshopped

Friday, 26 October 2018

Christchurch could have its new stadium in five years if everything goes to plan.

Designs and a business case for the stadium are still to be done, but Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods said on Friday they hoped construction could start in 2021 and be finished in 2023.

The new stadium will be on a site on the corner of Tuam and Madras streets in Christchurch.

Ground testing for contamination and land stability will begin late next month.

At an update on stadium progress alongside Woods, mayor Lianne Dalziel said the most important thing was to get started, and build 'something special'.

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel and Regeneration Minister Megan Woods at an update on stadium progress in Christchurch.

Demolition of Christchurch's old stadium at Lancaster Park earlier this year.

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Woods said the Government has now earmarked the $220 million sought by the city council as the Crown contribution to building the roofed stadium. The payment will still need to be approved by Cabinet when the business case is completed next year.

The sum is part of the $300m Crown fund for the city rebuild, which will be made available following a cost-sharing agreement with the council. Under that agreement, the council will put $253m into the stadium, to be built on a central city site bordered by Madras, Barbadoes, Hereford and Tuam streets.

Other possible additional sources of funding are being investigated.

Woods and Dalziel also announced that sports people, businesses and entertainment promoters are getting a chance to have a say in the design of Christchurch's planned stadium.

The first in a series of workshops was held in the city on Friday morning, so input from stadium users could be considered in a business case for the facility. Tertiary student representatives were also invited.

Dalziel said the first meeting was 'an example of the sort of engagement that will continue right across our community'.

“This is a project for the people of our region and we want to take them along with us every step of the way.'

She said the stadium would showcase the region and areas further afield.

Woods said the workshops would ensure the business case, which is already being put together, was strong.

“From here a full investment case will be developed to ensure the project is well designed and stacks up financially.'

Woods said they did not need more 'glossy pretty pictures', but to 'figure out what are the technical things' so the stadium could be built.

'We will be looking all the way through as to how we can accelerate those phases.'

However, if they 'skimped on the process' at the start of the project, they would pay for it at the other end.

The community needed to 'start using our imaginations' about what the stadium could be, she said.