AusLeisure

Building contractors CPB has advised infrastructure delivery body Rau Paenga that it expects to have construction of Christchurch’s much delayed Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre completed in July 2025.

New Zealand’s largest indoor sport and aquatic facility, which will be owned and operated by Christchurch City Council, will then go through a 12-week commissioning process once construction is completed before its opening to the public.

Advising that he is cautiously optimistic about CPB’s latest forecast, based on the contractor’s past performance on the project, Rau Paenga Chief Executive, John O’Hagan stated “there are some dedicated people working very hard on the site right now and the path to a July 2025 completion is achievable, if CPB resources and manages the project appropriately. I have personally stressed to CPB’s leadership the weight of community expectation that is on it to complete this highly-anticipated facility.

“While I’m disappointed construction cannot be completed earlier than July 2025, with CPB halting its legal action earlier in the year and ending its pursuit of $439 million worth of claims for past and future work on Parakiore, taking more time to materially challenge the contractor’s programme would only become a distraction that would not see Parakiore finished any sooner. The most productive course of action now is to focus on achieving this date.”

Noting that the facility is now about 80% complete, O’Hagan added “the scoreboards are in, the first of the wooden flooring is being laid in the 3780 metre² community courts space, the installation of the final two pools is about to commence and the first of the 19,500 plants and trees that will surround the facility are being planted.

“As we did with Te Pae Christchurch, we will be able to provide a total cost for the project when it is finished.

“While I appreciate this is a little unconventional not to share a forecast cost, given the past tensions, ongoing discussions around the nature of the live contract and the levers we have to drive performance, it is prudent for us to maintain a strong commercial position for this last portion of the build.”

Images: The current exterior of the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre (top) and laying the sports floor in the facility (below).

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