The Government has announced a new plan for a long-delayed Christchurch sports facility, after it was revealed the current approach will see the project exceed its budget by $75 million.
The Metro Sports Facility anchor project was put in place by the previous National Government and the plan was for a design and build contract, with an early contractor identified.
The cost of the Metro Sports Facility has blown out, and could now be built in a new location.
The Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Megan Woods, says the budget blowout was partially due to a new increased price by the preferred supplier and an increased risk allocation to cover the project.
The facility was on course to open in the final quarter of 2020, a delay which Ms Woods is also not happy about.
"As an incoming Minister, I have been conducting a thorough review of progress on the Anchor projects and to learn of a $75 million budget blowout on this project was very disappointing.
"That is an undue burden on taxpayers and ratepayers for a project that is already significantly delayed – in fact the facility was due to be opened by now, yet construction has not even begun. We can do better," Ms Woods says in a statement today.
She says the design work will be completed by Otakaro in readiness for a new build-only contract which will see the facility open for business in the first quarter of 2021.
"The people of Canterbury were promised a high quality sporting facility. It's clear that the plan agreed under the previous government was not going to be able to deliver that without unacceptable extra costs.
"Today's announcement is about setting out a clear roadmap to deliver a fit for purpose facility that Cantabrians deserve," Ms Woods said.
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