Community to be included in development of QEII Park site

Christchurch City Council is committed to engaging with residents over the development of the Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre on QEII Park, Mayor Lianne Dalziel says.

The Council will also continue to work closely with the Ministry of Education and Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' High Schools to ensure that the co-location of the recreation and sport centre with these facilities benefits the entire community, she says.

The Council today agreed that the Burwood/Pegasus Community Board should have sign-off on each part of the concept design for the new Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre on behalf of the community. The team working on the design of the facility will engage with the community board to ensure that the views of the wider community are incorporated into the concept design, following consultation with residents.

The Council agreed to establish an overarching Memorandum of Understanding between the Mayor (in behalf of the Council) and the Minister of Education (on behalf of the Ministry of Education). It also resolved to enter into a partnership agreement with the Burwood/Pegasus Community Board, the Ministry of Education and the two schools to jointly engage with the wider community over the co-location of the three facilities and to maximise the opportunity this will bring to residents.

"This is a significant and exciting opportunity to have three key community facilities based on the same site. It is important that the QEII Park site is developed in a joined-up way in order to enhance the educational and community benefits that the co-location of the Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre and Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' High Schools will bring," Mayor Dalziel says.

"This is so much more than two schools and a recreation and sport centre. It's a whole new world of educational, community, sporting and recreation opportunities."

Councillors David East and Glenn Livingstone say they are pleased the matter is now resolved and they can finally get on with building the recreation and sport centre and getting much-needed aquatic facilities back in the east.

Burwood/Pegasus Community Board Chair Andrea Cummings says, "I'm delighted that the process is back on track. This is a great outcome for the whole community, which includes local residents, schools and Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre supporters."

The Ministry announced in February 2015 that QEII Park is its preferred site for the relocation of Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' High Schools. The Council agreed to build the new Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre on the same site in September 2014.

Construction of the Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre is scheduled to begin in August 2016. It is expected the facility will open in 2018.

For more information, please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/EasternPool

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