Contractor secured for Christchurch Metro Sports Facility

Construction of the Christchurch Metro Sports Facility will get underway in May with Ōtākaro Limited awarding a $221 million contract for the construction of the facility to CPB Contractors Limited.

Ōtākaro Limited Chief Executive, John Bridgman, says construction is expected to be completed late in 2021, advising "as the largest sports and recreation venue of its kind in New Zealand, the Metro Sports Facility will play an important part in Christchurch’s regeneration. It will give everyone the opportunity to get active and bring national and international competitions to the city.

“It is tremendous to be able to take this step forward. As we’ve seen with Te Pae, getting a contractor on site and a building out of the ground does a lot for people’s confidence in Christchurch.

“Building the Metro Sports Facility will be of great benefit to the local construction industry with at least 80% of the sub-trades to be sourced domestically.

“We expect more than $60 million in wages and salaries will be paid to the local workforce throughout the course of the construction, with more than 400 people employed on site at its peak.”

The $221 million contract announced today sits alongside the $80 million allocated for specialist equipment like the pool tanks, hydroslides (waterlsides), water toys, fixtures, furniture and other equipment, and the money spent to date on professional services, land remediation and ground improvement.

Bridgman added “as previously discussed, we have altered the design and delivery method to save money where we could but with construction costs continually rising, the reality is if we want this facility we need to get the build underway now.”

Christchurch City Council will own and operate the Metro Sports Facility and will make a capped contribution of $148 million to the project. The Crown (New Zealand Government) has already purchased the land, giving the Metro Sports Facility a high-profile location on Moorhouse Avenue.

Bridgman says the Metro Sports Facility will provide both a touchstone for community wellbeing and economic benefits for the city.

He concluded “Christchurch City Council expect the Metro Sports Facility to host eight to 12 national and international events each year, which will bring mums, dads, family and supporters from all around the country, and they’ll be using our hotels and motels, eating out and going shopping.”

March Menard JV is on track to complete the installation of the last of the 7,200 in-ground stone columns in early May, during which time CPB will begin setting up on site.

The facility's design includes

• 10-lane 50 metre competition pool plus movable 1.5 metre wide boom.
• 1,000 aquatic spectator seats.
• 20 metre x 25 metre 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.
• 2,500 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).

Images of the planned Christchurch Metro Sports Facility courtesy of Ōtākaro Limited.