The Southern Centre QE II Park — a multi-sensory environment designed for people with disabilities – was officially opened by Deputy Mayor Lesley Keast on 1 September. Centre coordinator Sarah Kelly says the facility’s development has been a long, thorough process and the result is “much more than we had ever hoped for.

“We now have a world-class facility that offers a wide range of recreation and leisure experiences for people with profound and multiple disabilities,” she says.

Among the centre’s many hightech features is a wall with eight bubble tubes that change colour and produce sounds, a light zone with an ultraviolet light display, a musical instrument called a theromin that starts when people are close by, an interactive sound floor and a bungy chair.

“It really is a magical space, giving people with disability the opportunity to explore different sensory experiences at their own pace in a safe, fun environment,” Ms Kelly says. The Southern Centre is a project of Turning Point 2000 Children 2000. When Turning Point 2000 was wound up in April 2001, funding for the centre passed to Christchurch City Council Leisure, which also funds the coordinator’s position.

Christchurch architect Ross Maguire designed the centre, several Christchurch companies made equipment and many other community organisations are supporting it.

The Southern Centre is open to everybody, but priority is given to people with disability, their families and caregivers. "Teachers and therapists are also expected to make good use of the centre and it will be a great complement to the other recreational facilities at QEII," Ms Kelly says.