New high-performance training base for Christchurch

A new high-performance training base will be built in Christchurch following the demise of the earthquake-damaged QEII Park.

Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand and the Christchurch City Council have been working on the $3.5 million facility will be fully funded by the Government.

It will be built on land which is part of the Jellie Park Recreation and Sports Centre complex in the suburb of Ilam and should be completed by March next year.

Sport New Zealand chief executive Peter Miskimmin said the Government was investing $32m in high performance sports facilities around the country and the Christchurch facility was be part of that network.

The start of work on the facility was marked today with a short ceremony at Jellie Park.

The high-performance hub will include a gymnasium, indoor running straight, medical consulting rooms, showers, recovery areas, an athlete lounge, as well as office space for HPSNZ staff. The indoor training area will include a full-size netball court, and this court will be available for the community when not being used by elite athletes.