The wait continues for the opening of Christchurch's Metro Sports Facility and a local swimming organisation is disappointed with COVID-19 delays. The $300M facility, expected to be the biggest aquatic and indoor recreation and leisure venue in the country, was announced as part of the Central City Recovery Plan and was originally due to open in early 2016.
In 2017, then Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods scrapped the initial design and build contract with Leighs Cockram Joint Venture and later awarded the contract to Australian company CPB contractors. The build is being managed by Crown rebuild company Ōtākaro Limited. An Ōtākaro Limited spokesperson said they are about 40 per cent of the way through the construction of the Metro Sports Facility. There are currently around 150 people working on-site.
