$1m for changing rooms ‘too much’

A $1 million toilet and change facility planned for Christchurch’s QEII Park is too expensive and needs to be built for at least half the cost, city leaders say.

Christchurch City Council is deciding on the future use and layout of the park – the third largest in Christchurch.

It has come up with a draft master plan to spend $12m over the next 10 years on projects including the $1m public toilets and changing rooms, an upgraded community centre, a new playground, sports fields, an adventure nature trail, a basketball half court and a disc golf course.

However, the projects would need to be staged because the council has only $3.4m in funding available for the upgrade.

A hearings panel, made up of four city councillors including chairman Glenn Livingstone, Anne Galloway, Yani Johanson and David East, met yesterday to consider the 67 submissions received on the draft plan. They all believed $1m was too much to spend on a toilet block.

‘‘I know it’s not a house . . . but I still struggle with $1 million bucks,’’ Livingstone said.

He wanted staff to investigate building a toilet and changing facility for $250,000, but later said he could live with $500,000 following discussions with the panel.

Galloway wanted to know if there were any toilet blocks not being used that could be moved to QEII.

Johanson did not want the council to spend any money on toilets or change facilities and instead wanted the council to partner with Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ High School, who are set to move into new premises on QEII land in April. Money to upgrade QEII came from the proceeds of the land sale to the Ministry of Education.

Council recreation and sports planner Lizzy Farthing said supplying sport change facilities was a requirement for the sports fields proposed for QEII.

‘‘Facilities are high use and built to a high specification to ensure longevity and minimise vandalism.’’

The facility would include four change rooms with six showers and four toilets, a referee room with a shower and toilet, two storage rooms, two public toilets, a veranda with seating, cycle stands and a drinking fountain.

The $1m cost estimate was derived from other recently completed sports changing facilities, she said.

The hearings panel asked staff to come back with options based on a budget of no more than $500,000, to investigate the use of resources already onsite and offsite.

Setting aside some of the park for commercial use was also discussed by the panel but no decision was made. Christchurch man Chris Bond wants to build an

$11m multi-sport training and entertainment complex at QEII Park to bring the ‘‘fun’’ back to the city’s east.

The facility would include a 280-metre,

40-bay golf driving range, mini golf course, and eight-lane sack slide along with batting cages for softball, baseball and cricket, sport simulators, pro shop, function rooms and cafe.

They would go on the site previously occupied by the Ascot driving range at QEII.

Council senior engagement advisor Tessa Zant said it was likely the council would need to consult the community again before deciding whether to allow this type of proposal on QEII.

‘‘It differs to what we consulted on.’’ The panel requested more information and would reconvene on February 25.