Content Archived on the Web

This content has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please check our menus for latest news items.

Last modified: 29 Jul 2020 10:21am

An artists impression of the new indoor courts showing an aerial view of a red and white building on the edge of two grass fields

Selwyn District Council has appointed Apollo Projects Ltd to build the Foster Park indoor courts.

The indoor court facility includes eight courts, along with a 240 metre indoor walking track on the mezzanine level.

The indoor courts were confirmed in the Long-Term Plan 2018-2028 (LTP) and should be completed in time for the winter 2021 sports season, Council Major Projects manager John Reid says.

The facility will assist meeting a growing need for indoor sports facilities within the rapidly increasing population in Selwyn.

“Throughout New Zealand we have more sport and recreation activities requiring indoor facilities than ever and Council has recognised that this trend is only going to continue into the future,” he says.

Four of the courts will be built with a sprung wooden floor, while the other half of the building will feature a multi-purpose floor which will be able to host a wide range of events and functions.Image of a purple running track on a mezzanine over a sports court

“There’s been a lot of interest in these courts from the general community, not just sports groups, and the multi-purpose space gives you lots of flexibility – you could host an indoor market, or a trade show, or an exhibition. It makes it a place for everyone,” Mr Reid says.

The Council approved a $21.5 million budget for the project which includes both the building construction and the surrounding landscaping requirements.

The courts will have a focus on serving the community, including clubs and schools, rather than high performance sport and recreation, which also meant the district was maximising the value of the facility, Mr Reid says.

“We’ve taken the approach that this is a community facility and our emphasis has been to provide as much indoor space with good quality courts for community use. That’s meant we’re getting this eight-court facility for the same price or less than many facilities half its size that have been constructed in recent years around New Zealand”

The building features insulated Kingspan panelling which provides both high quality insulation and removes the need for internal cladding. It will also have solar panels that will generate up to 80 percent of its expected power consumption during summer.

The project will now move to a detailed design phase with construction planned to begin in early November this year.