Rebuilding commences at Christchurch’s QEII’s Park

Work has today commenced on the building of the new QEII Recreation and Sport Centre in Christchurch.

Replacing the former QEII, demolished in 2012 after being made unstable after the February 2011 Canterbury earthquake, the eagerly-awaited 4573 metre² facility will include leisure and training pools, as well as a hydroslide, water adventure playground, steamroom and sauna, fitness centre and a café.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel led a sod-turning ceremony today (17th January) that included the handing over of a sapling in conjunction with Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri. The ceremony set the stage for Apollo Projects to begin work on the site in earnest.

Commenting on the project, Mayor Dalziel stated “the new QEII Recreation and Sport Centre will be an outstanding asset which will see the return of swimming and fitness amenities to QEII Park.

"Today's ground-breaking ceremony for the centre marks a new beginning for the east and will become the heart of this community.”

Christchurch Councillor David East said that the new QEII will in some respects be picking up where the previous facility left off, adding “the old QEII pool underwent a pretty major revamp in the early 2000s, and the vision at that time was for a legacy for future generations – a jewel in the crown.

“The 2011 earthquakes unfortunately put an end to that particular phase in the life of QEII, but a new chapter is about to begin, and that same vision lives on.”
The new facility is scheduled to open in mid-2018, and will be joined by the relocated Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ High Schools, which are scheduled to open in 2019.
The project will cost $37.7 million and includes a generous contribution from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust, who donated $7.47 million for water attractions.

Images: Artist’s concept of the QEII Recreation and Sport Centre (top) and Councillor David East, Mayor Lianne Dalziel, Coastal–Burwood Community Board Chair Kim Money, and long-time QEII swim instructor Willie Pitima turn the first sod on the new QEII Recreation and Sport Centre (below).

3rd November 2016 - CONSTRUCTION ON CHRISTCHURCH’S NEW QEII CENTRE TO START NEXT MONTH 

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

30th May 2016 - CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL REVEALS THE NEW QEII

26th February 2015 - MILESTONE OPENING FOR LYTTELTON’S SUMMER POOL

13th September 2014 - QEII PARK SITE A PREFERRED LOCATION FOR EASTERN CHRISTCHURCH’S NEW AQUATIC AND RECREATION CENTRE

19th April 2012 - QEII PARK AND RECREATION CENTRE TO BE DEMOLISHED