21 December 2006

Big gains made towards Port site for ICSC

Wellington City Council and CentrePort have located a feasible site at Harbour Quays for the 12-court Indoor Community Sport Centre (ICSC) and are in the process of exchanging letters of agreement confirming their intention to build the centre there.

CentrePort Chairman Nigel Gould says while there are issues still to be worked through before a final decision is made, all parties are confident the issues can be resolved.

Mayor Kerry Prendergast says it’s a great Christmas present for the city. “That level of confidence will enable us to start preliminary work on the proposed Harbour Quays site. To get to this point is a major gain for the city and the region, and a credit to the staff of each of the organisations involved.

“The Stadium end of the city was always our preferred site, but until now we haven’t been able to find the right site for the right price. Siting the ICSC at Harbour Quays will mean it’s accessible by pedestrians and on public transport. It also supports our goals for the Harbour Quays development to expand the types of activities taking place there.

“A high-profile site will increase the likelihood of attracting a lucrative naming rights sponsor, and there are natural linkages with the Westpac Stadium. There is also good provision for car parking and traffic management at Harbour Quays.”

Nigel Gould says siting the ICSC on port land will anchor the northern end of the Harbour Quays precinct and “provide a considerable range of facilities for the benefit of other Harbour Quays users.”

Greater Wellington Regional Council Chairman Ian Buchanan says his Council supports the initiative and welcomes the progress on agreement on the Harbour Quays site. “The ICSC will be a great asset to the city and the region, and create a fantastic new dimension to the gateway to the city.”

Mayor Prendergast says the Council won’t make a final decision on the site until March 2007, once all outstanding issues are resolved. These include amendments to the Port redevelopment plan and the financial arrangements. Until then, design work for the Cobham Park site will continue.

Sinclair Knight Merz has been appointed to design the ICSC and design work will start immediately. SKM are considered one of the world’s leading design and engineering firms with significant experience in designing sports facilities having been involved in the design of Stadium Australia for the Sydney Olympic Games, Athens Olympic Stadium, and the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre and Ericsson Stadium - New East Stand in Auckland.

If the Council approves the Harbour Quays site in March, building work on the ICSC is likely to start at the end of 2007.

ENDS

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