Countdown to reopening of Christchurch's new QEII Park

After 17 months of construction, Christchurch’s new $38.6 million QEII Park Recreation and Sport Centre will open on 31st May.

Sited in the suburb of North New Brighton, the new facility features a 130-metre long hydroslide (waterslide), a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river channel and water toys, a learn-to-swim pool, a hydrotherapy pool, a spa, a steam room, and a sauna. It also has a fitness centre and café.

The 25-metre main pool has a movable floor, which can be raised and lowered by cables and pulleys under the floor, powered by hydraulic rams in a nearby plant room. The facility also has a chlorine generation plant, which will generate enough chlorine for QEII and other Christchurch City Council pools and fountains.

The children's area - which includes a leisure pool, lazy river, adventure playground, toddlers' pool, and hydroslide – is at one end of the centre and is closed off from the main pool hall to limit the noise.

As reported by Christchurch's The Press newspaper, during a tour of the facility today, Steve Hastie, Senior Project Manager for builders Apollo said he preferred the double tube because the weight of an extra person made the ride "a lot more fun".

Replacing the former QEII facility, damaged irreparably in the February 2011 earthquake. there are growing calls for the QEII Park to be expanded to become Christchurch's metro sports facility.

However, both Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods and Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said QEII was not considered for a 50 metre pool as part of the metro sports facility.

The New Zealand Govenrment-led metro sports facility, initially due for completion this year on a central city site, has been mired in delays and its contractor was axed in November over a $75 million budget blowout.

Christchurch City Councillor David East said he was struggling to figure out why the council and Government were pursuing a project that was going to cost "a hell of a lot of money" when it could achieve the same result for a quarter of the price.

Councillor East advised earlier this month "it's going to cost the city so much, when it's evidently possible to build a 50 metre pool for a hell of a lot less."

Click here for more information on the project.

Image: An artist's impression of the exterior of the new QEII Park (Courtesy of Christchurch City Council) 

22nd November 2017 - RISING COST FEARS LEAD TO REVIEW OF CHRISTCHURCH METRO SPORTS FACILITY PLANS

13th November 2017 - UPGRADES FOR CHRISTCHURCH’S PIONEER AND JELLIE PARK RECREATION AND SPORT CENTRES 

8th September 2017 - CONCERN OVER DECLINING SWIMMING SKILLS AMONG NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN 

24th August 2017 - REPORT OUTLINES OPTIONS FOR NEW CHRISTCHURCH STADIUM 

4th July 2017 - CHRISTCHURCH TOWN HALL REPAIRS ON TRACK FOR MID 2018 COMPLETION

28th February 2017 - WORK SET TO START ON NGĀ PUNA WAI SPORTS HUB

17th January 2017 - REBUILDING COMMENCES AT CHRISTCHURCH’S QEII’S PARK

14th October 2016 - COMMUNITY INPUT WANTED ON BRIGHTON POOLS PLAN 

12th September 2016 - NEW CHRISTCHURCH METRO SPORTS FACILITY TO BE LARGEST AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTRE IN NEW ZEALAND

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.