This page is not a current Christchurch City Council document. Please read our disclaimer.
28. 5. 97
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT BY THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE PROJECTS AND PROPERTY COMMITTEE
7. WESTPACTRUST CENTRE: ICE FLOOR RR 5231
As requested by the Committee, the Leisure and Community Services Manager has submitted the following supplementary report:
| Officer responsible |
Author |
| Leisure and Community Services Manager |
Alistair Graham |
| Corporate Plan Output: WestpacTrust Centre |
The purpose of this report is to respond to a request from the Projects and Property meeting of Friday16 May on the likely usage of an ice floor for family recreation.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu presented to the Projects and Property Committee a well researched and thorough appraisal of the use of an ice floor at the Westpac Trust Centre. They researched possible show and ice-sport opportunities with the economic benefit they may bring.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu reported as follows:
ICE SHOWS
Key findings are:
* In Australia the average of 15 days ice use per year is not regarded as sufficient by the arena managers contacted to justify a permanent ice pad.
* Current touring family ice shows include:
Walt Disney's World on Ice : Wizard of Oz/Aladdin
Ice Capades/Warner Bros : Looney Tunes/Batman & Robin
Star on Ice
Tour of Champions
Holiday on Ice
* New ice shows, such as Starlight Express, are under development by Disney.
* Visits by Disney are dependent on securing another New Zealand venue (preferably Auckland) and also on touring the Australian major venues as part of the routing.
* There is currently no suitable venue in Auckland.
* Disney are taking 2 shows to 6 venues in Australia in 1997.
* Warner Bros are touring 9 venues in Asia in 1997.
* Disney and Holiday on Ice have their own temporary rinks which they tour with, as required. The other companies hire temporary rinks, often from Disney who have 16.
* Disney have visited New Zealand twice before (in 1987 and 1993) but did not include Christchurch. Torvill & Dean visited Christchurch in 1987 and 1991, staging 11 and 9 shows respectively in Hagley Park.
ICE SPORTS
Key findings are as follows:
* Potential hocky events include:
- Tasman Cup (3/4 times per year x 5 days each event)
- Junior Asia/Oceania tournament every 4 years
- Old Timers every 2 years
- Visiting teams
- World `D' Pool Championships (1999)
* Other possible events include:
- World Junior Speed Skating Championships (1999)
- Pacific Curling Championships
* There is a demand for additional ice time in Christchurch (particularly for hockey and speed skating)
* Summer camps for speed skating (with rugby/soccer/swimming) from Japan and Korea have been identified by NCC (New Zealand) as a potential market.
* The temporary rinks used by touring companies (20x50m) are not big enough for sports use and it is difficult to achieve the hardness required.
* Three full-size rinks (one with ideally 10,000 capacity) plus a long track course are required to host the Winter Olympics.
* The New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation has 350 affiliated members in Christchurch.
* The ability of Christchurch to host ice sporting events is currently limited by the spectator capacity at the Alpine Ice Centre (300-400).
HILLARY COMMISSION RESEARCH
The Hillary Commission's latest participation research shows that walking is the most favoured physical activity by New Zealanders - short walks 40%, long walks 39%, followed by swimming with aerobics 12% in tenth place. The Hillary Commission's survey could not identify any significant support for ice activities.
In some ways this is to be expected. New Zealand does not have a traditional ice culture as witnessed in the north of North America and particularly in Canada.
Ice hockey and in fact ice sports in general continue to grow in North America. A recent survey in North America states "interest in ice sports is surging at a record pace". It quotes that since 1990 there has been a 76% increase in registered ice hockey teams. This is largely a result of the emergence of women's ice hockey scheduled to be included in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Wagano. Figure skating is experiencing a similar increase with a 49% increase between 1990 and 1995.
CHRISTCHURCH EXPERIENCE
Ice arenas have had a chequered history in Christchurch. The only ice rink currently operating is Alpine Ice Sports Centre in Brougham Street. Our figures indicate that between 1994/95 season and 1995/96 season there was a 15.77% decrease in total numbers involved in ice sport in Christchurch. However, a 41% increase between 1995/96 season and 1996/97 season has been advised (that's 486 members to 685 members).
Our understanding is that Alpine Sports Centre lease ice time to clubs but control
learn-to-skate sessions. Further we understand that there is a greater demand for ice time than the Alpine Sports Centre can provide with club and practice times often using time slots late in the evening.
In 1990 the then Mount Hutt Ice Arena was put up for tender and the Council considered purchase. A sub-committee was appointed to consider Council interest and reported to the Policy and Resources Committee. The Council did not support purchase and its interest lapsed. The Centre was subsequently purchased by private individuals.
WESTPAC TRUST CENTRE
The issue really is what use an ice floor would have at the Westpac Trust Centre. The Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu research indicates a permanent ice floor will not influence the decision by organisations such as Disney to include Christchurch - they will bring their own ice floor. There seems little doubt that from a general usage point-of-view supported by NCC that an ice
floor creates more hire opportunities. This has to equate with the cost of installation, maintenance, etc. Because the Westpac Trust Centre is for multi-purpose sport and entertainment ice will not be available on a regular basis for local recreational use. In other words, it will not significantly add to the available ice space for clubs and training on a programmed basis. It could be available on irregular occasions for free recreational use and would need to be promoted on those one-off occasions.
It is interesting to note that at the time of writing this, Dunedin is reported to be considering a $3m inner city ice-rink. This is similar to the operation of the Alpine Ice Sports Centre - ie; ice use can be programmed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is difficult not to support the findings of the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu report which recommends that the cost of an ice floor cannot be justified from potential income.
Chairman's
Recommendation: That the information be received.
CONSIDERED THIS 28TH DAY OF MAY 1997
MAYOR