Big sports complex proposed for QEII

A Christchurch man wants to build an $11 million multi-sport training and entertainment complex at QEII Park to bring the ‘‘fun’’ back to the city’s east.

Chris Bond, the sole director and shareholder of Five Under Par Ltd, wants to build 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.

Bond, a radio presenter and producer, said yesterday he had private investors lined up to be part of the project, but he needed a lease from Christchurch City Council for the land before the project could progress.

‘‘We need a lot more fun after everything we have been through.’’

The council is planning a $12m upgrade of QEII Park over the next 10 years. It released a draft master plan last year, which included new public toilets and changing rooms, an upgraded community centre, a new playground, sports fields, an adventure nature trail, a basketball halfcourt and disc golf course.

But the projects would need to be completed in stages because the council had only $3.4m in funding available for the upgrade.

The $38.6m new Taiora fitness centre and indoor pool opened in the park last year, and a new Christchurch School of Gymnastics building is also under construction. Some of the land will also be used to rebuild Avonside Girls’ and Shirley Boys’ high schools.

The 37-hectare QEII Park, built for the 1974 Commonwealth Games, was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquakes. The old aquatic centre and stadium were demolished and the preschool, driving range and golf course closed.

The council’s master plan does not include Bond’s training and entertainment complex, but he hoped to persuade a council hearings panel to put it in, he said.

Bond submitted his proposal to the council during its master plan consultation last year and plans a presentation to a council hearings panel today.

His proposal comes with a petition signed by 2938 people and 24 letters of support from school principals, sporting organisations and nearby residents’ associations.

Bond said there were still gaping holes in the recreational fabric of the rapidly growing east Christchurch community.

The site proposed for Bond’s complex, the bottom southwest corner of QEII Park bordering Frosts and Travis roads, was set aside as a wetland and stormwater basin and park area in the master plan.

Council staff said the area would become increasingly flood prone. ‘‘This solution works with the natural processes of the area and increases vegetation cover and biodiversity opportunities in the east,’’ they said.

The council received 67 submissions to its draft master plan and 87 per cent believed the plan met the needs of the community. But many wanted to see parts of it tweaked.

Many wanted the adventure nature trail completed sooner with the help of volunteers. No date has been set for the trail to be built, but its $870,000 cost was not included in the $3.4m work planned for the first three years.

In response to the submissions, council staff have asked the hearings panel to make the basketball court full-sized.