New recreation complex for QEII takes small step closer

A Christchurch man is a step closer to bringing the ‘‘fun’’ back to the city’s east, after a council panel set aside a section of QEII Park for commercial development.

Chris Bond, the sole director and shareholder of Five Under Par Ltd, wants to build an $11 million complex at QEII Park including 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.

The Christchurch City Council has been consulting the public on a $12m draft master plan for the 36-hectare site but the plan did not include an area for any commercial development.

However, a hearings panel decided on Tuesday to set aside the southwest corner of the park for future commercial development. If the full council adopts the panel’s recommendations, it will pave the way for Bond to apply for a lease.

But the panel has recommended the area be reserved for only two years.

If no development was approved within that time, the area would revert back to the wetland/stormwater basin and park area identified in the draft.

Bond, a radio presenter and producer, wanted to build the facility on the site previously occupied by the Ascot driving range, bordering Frosts and Travis roads.

The park, built for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, was badly damaged during the 2011 earthquakes.

A new fitness centre and indoor pool opened in the park last year.