Developing Aorangi Park and Stadium

Aorangi Park is recognised as a locally and regionally significant sports hub. It is the home of several regional facilities for sports, including netball, basketball, volleyball, hockey and cricket. It is also a well utilised neighbourhood park. The Stadium (Southern Trust Event Centre) is the beating heart of the park.

Council's Decision

Following consultation with the community, Council decided to undertake the development of Aorangi Park and Stadium between 2023 and 2025

This option means Council will fast-track the development of Aorangi Park and Stadium, moving construction forward to 2023/24-2024/25. The feasibility and planning phase will begin in Year 1 of the LTP with a feasibility study, detailed design planning in Year 2, with the goal of construction beginning in Year 3 of the LTP.

The estimated capital cost of this option is $23.4 million, funded by debt and potential fundraising, and an estimated additional $5.9 million of operating costs, funded by rates, from 2022/23 to cover interest and depreciation and project management to accelerate the delivery of the project. Additional marginal operating costs (e.g. staffing, electricity) incurred through operating a larger facility are not included and are expected to be covered by increased revenue from user fees and changes.

The challenges

The review of the Aorangi Park Master Plan, following consultation with key stakeholders, has identified a number of key considerations and challenges, including:

  • During traditional peak times (after school and evenings), the Stadium is often at full capacity, particularly for basketball, and its use for sporting competitions could be interrupted for events
  • The desire for Netball South Canterbury to deliver its full senior competition indoors
  • The need to replace the hockey turf (located west of the Stadium) within the next three years
  • Requirements for pavilion facilities for cricket
  • Poor quality training fields and lighting for football

Moving forward

The revised Master Plan, adopted by Council in February, envisages the next 25 years for the Park and recommends six key facility developments

Stage 1
  1. Indoor court extension
  2. Development of a ‘Sports House’ model for shared space within the Stadium
  3. Re-location of the western hockey turf (to allow for court extension)

Stage 2

  1. Realignment of netball courts (with provision for future canopy cover for two to four courts)
  2. Increase in quality for football fields
  3. Reconfiguration of Aorangi Pavilion to a multi-purpose clubroom

In adopting the Master Plan, Council has committed to addressing all challenges identified, and undertaking both Stage 1 and Stage 2 over the next 25 years.

The Master Plan is necessarily high level, and has provided an outline of what we are trying to achieve at Aorangi Park. Comprehensive planning is now needed for what the facilities will look and feel like and a business case for how Council, and other users will operate at the facilities.

Council is keen to address the current challenges at Aorangi Park. We cannot wait 25 years to ensure that we have quality, fit-for-purpose recreational facilities for our community. But we recognise this is a large and costly project. We are seeking your views on when the development of Aorangi Park is best undertaken.

Council has received some rough order costs to undertake Stage One of the Master Plan.

The options

Our preferred option is option 1.

Start 2024
Summary of Option

Undertake development in 2024-26 (Years 4-6 of the LTP)
What this Option will look like

Detailed planning will begin in 2023/24 with the goal of beginning construction in 2024/25 and completing the development in 2026/27
This development would include:

  • A proposed 3 court extension to the stadium
  • Addition of a Sports House within the Stadium to accommodate current and future users of the Event Centre.
  • Relocation of the western hockey turf
  • Road, carpark and public outdoor space reconfiguration.
Capital Costs

$23.4M

Estimated cost debt funded

Operating Costs

$4.3M

Estimated additional $4.3M operating cost from 2024/25 (Year 4) to 2030-31 (Year 10) funded by rates.
Operating costs cover interest and depreciation only. Additional marginal operating costs (e.g. staffing, electricity) from operating a larger facility are not included and are expected to be covered by increased revenue from fees/hireage.

Delay 10+ years
Summary of Option

Delay the development 10+ years
What this Option will look like

This option would mean that Stage One of the Aorangi Master Plan, including the court extension to the Stadium, would not be undertaken in the next ten years. This option would not resolve the issues identified in the Master Plan, including the current capacity issues at the Stadium.
The renewal of the hockey turf in the existing location within the next three years may limit future development options for the Stadium.

Capital Costs

$0

Additional debt

Operating Costs

$0

Additional on rates

Start in 2023
Summary of Option

Undertake the development in 2023-25 (Years 3-5 of the LTP)
What this Option will look like

This option would see us fast-track the development of Aorangi Park and the Stadium, moving construction forward to 2023/24- 2024/25.
This option would see the capacity issues at the stadium resolved sooner.
This time frame would be challenging and Council would need to employ additional staff to manage the project. It would also reduce planning and consultation timeframes, and would bring Council very close to our debt limit.

Capital Costs

$23.4M

Estimated cost debt funded

Operating Costs

$5.9M

Estimated additional operating costs from 2022/23 (Year 2) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates. The additional costs for this option include project management to accelerate the delivery of this project.
Operating costs cover interest, depreciation and additional project management resources only. Additional marginal operating costs (e.g. staffing, electricity) from operating a larger facility are not included and are expected to be covered by increased revenue from fees/hireage.

Preferred Option

1

Start 2024

2

Delay 10+ years

3

Start in 2023

Summary of Option

Undertake development in 2024-26 (Years 4-6 of the LTP)

Delay the development 10+ years

Undertake the development in 2023-25 (Years 3-5 of the LTP)

What this Option will look like

Detailed planning will begin in 2023/24 with the goal of beginning construction in 2024/25 and completing the development in 2026/27
This development would include:

  • A proposed 3 court extension to the stadium
  • Addition of a Sports House within the Stadium to accommodate current and future users of the Event Centre.
  • Relocation of the western hockey turf
  • Road, carpark and public outdoor space reconfiguration.

This option would mean that Stage One of the Aorangi Master Plan, including the court extension to the Stadium, would not be undertaken in the next ten years. This option would not resolve the issues identified in the Master Plan, including the current capacity issues at the Stadium.
The renewal of the hockey turf in the existing location within the next three years may limit future development options for the Stadium.

This option would see us fast-track the development of Aorangi Park and the Stadium, moving construction forward to 2023/24- 2024/25.
This option would see the capacity issues at the stadium resolved sooner.
This time frame would be challenging and Council would need to employ additional staff to manage the project. It would also reduce planning and consultation timeframes, and would bring Council very close to our debt limit.

Capital Costs

$23.4M

Estimated cost debt funded

$0

Additional debt

$23.4M

Estimated cost debt funded

Operating Costs

$4.3M

Estimated additional $4.3M operating cost from 2024/25 (Year 4) to 2030-31 (Year 10) funded by rates.
Operating costs cover interest and depreciation only. Additional marginal operating costs (e.g. staffing, electricity) from operating a larger facility are not included and are expected to be covered by increased revenue from fees/hireage.

$0

Additional on rates

$5.9M

Estimated additional operating costs from 2022/23 (Year 2) to 2030/31 (Year 10) funded by rates. The additional costs for this option include project management to accelerate the delivery of this project.
Operating costs cover interest, depreciation and additional project management resources only. Additional marginal operating costs (e.g. staffing, electricity) from operating a larger facility are not included and are expected to be covered by increased revenue from fees/hireage.