More construction delays for Canterbury's Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub

A southern aerial impression of the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub. Photo / Christchurch Star

High rainfall has yet again delayed construction of the Nga Puna Wai Sports Hub, which means the first lot of sporting facilities are unlikely to be finished until the middle of next year.

The athletics track was meant to be up and running by March by now has been pushed out until May, the Christchurch Star reports.

Nga Puna Wai, built on 32ha near Wigram, is being built to replace earthquake damaged sports facilities across the city.

It includes the former athletics and field amenities at QEII Park, the hockey turfs at Porritt Park, the tennis courts at Wilding Park, and the rugby league fields displaced from Rugby League Park in Addington.

City council recreation services manager David Bailey said a "very wet" winter and spring has had an impact on the planned earthworks.

"The excessively wet ground conditions meant the contractors needed to wait for the silts and gravels to dry out before they could progress with the work, which unfortunately has impacted on the construction programme," he said.

"We were originally hoping to have the athletics track up and running in March next year but the delays to the earthworks programme mean work on the track is unlikely to be completed until May 2018.

"Provided we don't get excessive rain over the summer we hope to have the hockey pitches ready for use in July,'' Bailey said.

The outdoor tennis courts will be the next to open – in spring 2018 – followed by the rugby league fields – in the 2018/19 summer.

"We're working very closely with the sports codes in the development of Nga Puna Wai and they understand the reasons behind these delays.

"Both athletics and hockey have plans in place to ensure their sports' needs are met until their new facilities are ready for use,'' Bailey said.