QEll and Porritt Parks - racing ahead now

Improving Queen Elizabeth II Park and Porritt Park will attract higher-level sports events to Christchurch.

Both facilities were built for the 1974 Commonwealth Games and have served the city well.

However, a $20 million project to upgrade QEII has started - initially with re-roofing the stadium prior to the FIFA Under 17 World Soccer Championships. A new 50metre pool is being built and the old one will be transformed into a leisure/ wave pool like the popular one at Pioneer Leisure Centre.

Above the existing 50 metre pool will be a large mezzanine floor which will enable future development - the exact nature of which is yet to be determined. As well as redeveloping the pools, the Village Green will be further developed as a first class cricket venue with $180,000 being provided for the installation of new toilet facilities and some seating.

A grant of $100,000 for five years is also to be made to the Canterbury Cricket Association to enable them to build a suitable pavilion on site for use as changing rooms and some spectator facilities.

An annual grant of $80,000 will be made to the Canterbury Hockey Association. This will enable the association to fund the construction of a second artificial turf at Porritt Park, and replace the existing sand-based turfs at Nunweek Park and No.1 turf at Porritt Park when they fall due.

Upgrading of the grandstand and spectators’ facilities will be undertaken in the next three years to complement the hockey facility.