Media Release – December 18, 2012

Master planner sought for world-class health hub

A call has gone out today for groups wanting to master plan a world-class hub for health education, research and innovation in Christchurch.

The Health Precinct, to be led by the private sector in partnership with CERA, the Canterbury District Health Board, the Ministry of Health and the Christchurch City Council, is one of the key anchor projects in the Blueprint Plan for central Christchurch.

Broadly defined as the area bounded by Hagley Avenue, St Asaph Street, Montreal Street and Oxford Terrace, the Precinct will be a campus-style hub within walking distance of Christchurch Hospital, which – along with Burwood Hospital - will be the subject of redevelopments worth more than half a billion dollars.

The Precinct will bring together private research and professional partners, and ``medi-hotels’’, where patients and families can stay while receiving outpatient or specialist care. It will also provide cutting edge facilities for learning and teaching medicine involving leading tertiary providers.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) today went up on the Government Electronic Tenders Service (GETS) website for a lead consultant to provide master planning services for the Health Precinct.

Christchurch Central Development Unit Director Warwick Isaacs says the RFP is another important step towards the creation of a dynamic new central Christchurch.

``The world-class nature of the Health Precinct will attract talented people and smart businesses to be a part of central Christchurch, helping drive growth for the city and South Island,’’ Mr Isaacs says.

``The master plan signals the start of work at a key location that will link users of the Precinct with related health and wellbeing activity at the nearby Metro Sports Facility and Hagley Park.’’

The RFP will close on 11 February next year, with respondents expected to be notified of the outcome by 25 February.

Delivery of the final Master Plan is expected in early May.

ENDS

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