Jellie Park first step in Aquatic Facilities Plan
The Aquatic Facilities Plan is Christchurch’s first city-wide plan for the future provision of aquatic facilities. It looks at the city’s needs for the next 30 years and develops a network of facilities to provide Christchurch residents with year-round access to first-class recreational aquatic activities for a healthy, active lifestyle.
Adopted by the Christchurch City Council in June 2006, the plan paves the way for the development of four new facilities in the next 14 years – including the redevelopment of Jellie Park – and the addition of a new shallow children’s pool at Pioneer Leisure Centre.
The plan is the outcome of an extensive consultation process, providing a framework that will guide and inform Council decision-making as every five years it reviews the plan and makes decisions on the next phase of development to meet the changing needs of the city, says Mayor Garry Moore.
“Redevelopment of Jellie Park will be the first project under the Aquatic Facilities Plan. This project will go out for tender early next year, with work beginning on-site at the end of March. The new facility (visualised above) is expected to be ready for opening in May 2008.”
A year later, a new aquatic facility is planned to be opened in Papanui. “The northern corridor of Christchurch has been identified as having the greatest need for an aquatic facility; this sector of the city having the highest concentrations of young people, older people and low-income families that do not have access to an aquatic facility.”
“The northern corridor of the city also has the lowest vehicle ownership and is the area expected to experience the greatest long-term population growth in the next 20 years.” he says.
This facility is to be developed on Papanui High School land, and in partnership with Northlands Mall. It is proposed the new facility will have a 25m six- or eight-lane main pool, a separate children’s and toddlers’ pool, and a recreation centre for both school and community use.
A shallow children’s pool will be added to the existing Pioneer Leisure Centre by 2010 to complete its suite of facilities. Since redevelopment of this facility in 1999 to include a gymnasium and leisure pool, it has been identified that Pioneer no longer caters for the needs of families with young children.
“Under the plan, the south-west sector of the city is seen to have the second-greatest need. This is where it is planned to build the second new aquatic facility by 2018. The site for this facility is yet to be identified but likely to be in the Hornby or Halswell area.” Mr Moore says.
With this planned development and existing alternative facilities in the community, Sockburn Pool was closed earlier this year because of low patronage and high operating costs.
Possible locations for the new facility are Denton Park, the existing Halswell Aquatic Centre, which is in the centre of extensive current and planned residential development, or Wigram Air Base, again for its strategic location within burgeoning residential development.
Garry Moore says the last new facility earmarked for construction under the plan is located in east Christchurch, at Woolston or Linwood, and will be operational by 2020. “This would give Christchurch a comprehensive network of aquatic facilities throughout the city catering for the wider community needs.”
Possible locations for this last facility are Linwood Park (the northern corner adjacent to Eastgate Mall) or in Woolston Park, close to Woolston Village.
“Throughout this development phase, the Council will place an emphasis on working in partnership with schools, malls, retail hubs, health providers and other providers where feasible to develop facilities that reduce the cost to ratepayers but ensure the community is still provided with first-class facilities”.
These new facilities will be designed and constructed to be durable in appeal and physical attributes. They will meet the Council’s requirements for quality, functional construction, environmentally friendly design, an energy efficient operation and low maintenance. |
