Talks begin over QEII Park

Christchurch City Council is committed to working with the Ministry of Education, Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' High Schools to ensure that the co-location of the new Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre and the two schools on QEII Park benefits the entire community.

Representatives from the Council, the Ministry, Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' High Schools and the Burwood/Pegasus Community Board have attended the first of a series of regular partnership meetings set up to discuss the relocation of the two schools to a still-to-be-determined part of the QEII Park site, alongside the Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre.

Councillors David East and Glenn Livingstone, both of whom represented the Council at the partnership meeting, say the first meeting was a positive start to discussions between the parties.

"Residents are understandably keen to see progress on the QEII site as soon as possible. While the earthquakes damaged these facilities, they've also given us the opportunity to think about how we can do things better when we rebuild. This is a really exciting opportunity to have three key community facilities based on the one site, which we expect to have significant spinoffs for residents. We're looking forward to continuing to work with all the parties involved to bring these discussions to a successful conclusion."

Work continues to progress on the development of the new recreation and sport centre. A project team was last month appointed to begin the concept design for the new facility.

"We've already had great input from the community about the development of the new recreation and sport centre and we're looking forward to receiving more feedback from residents as we move ahead with the design of the new facility in the next few months," Councillors East and Livingstone say.

The Ministry announced in February 2015 that QEII Park is its preferred site for the relocation of Avonside Girls' and Shirley Boys' High Schools. The Council agreed to build the new Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre on the same site in September 2014.

Construction of the Eastern Recreation and Sport Centre is scheduled to begin in August 2016. It is expected the facility will open in 2018. The new schools are also expected to open in 2018.

For more information, please visit www.ccc.govt.nz/EasternPool

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