Recreation and sport in the city will get a much needed boost with Sunday's official opening of the Graham Condon Recreation and Sports Centre.
And, from Monday 10 October the Centre will deliver world-class sports and recreation opportunities to the public.
The Centre is named in honour of the late Graham Condon, who served as an elected Shirley/Papanui community board member from 1995-1998 and was then elected as a Christchurch City Councillor (and was appointed by the Council to the Shirley/Papanui Community Board) from 1998 until his death in 2007.
Mayor Bob Parker says the Centre is a fitting tribute to Graham Condon and recognises the valuable work he did for the community and also his commitment to helping sportspeople achieve their full potential.
"The Centre is a valuable addition to the city's active recreation facilities and will be especially welcomed by the north-west's fast-growing community.
"It's a tribute to our staff that through an extraordinary year with its earthquakes and extreme weather, the Centre will open on schedule. I think that in itself is a major achievement and shows what Christchurch's can-do spirit can achieve."
The Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre arose from a partnership between the Council and Papanui High School with support from Northlands Shopping Centre. It will complement existing Recreation and Sport Centres at Pioneer and Jellie Park and forms part of the integrated and reinvigorated city-wide Aquatic Facilities Plan.
John Filsell, Council Recreation and Sports Manager says this collaborative effort has been essential in making the Centre possible. It will continue to benefit the partners and the community, while ensuring that the facilities get maximum usage.
"The school will benefit from the use of facilities during school hours in exchange for the use of Ministry of Education land and additional heating provided by the school's boilers. Local businesses are also well placed to take advantage of the extra custom the Centre is likely to attract," he says.
"It incorporates innovative energy-saving features in its design - through negotiation with PAK'nSAVE Northlands, 'waste heat' from their refrigeration units will help heat water in two of the pools.
"I am especially pleased to see this latest recreation and sport centre open to the community at a time when I'm sure it will be doubly welcome. I look forward to seeing the Graham Condon Recreation and Sports Centre go from strength to strength," says Mr Filsell.
The Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre is owned and operated by Christchurch City Council, but located on Papanui High School land, on Sisson Drive, opposite the Northlands Shopping Centre.
The new Centre features an eight lane, 25 metre indoor swimming pool, spa pool, learners' pool and a separate toddlers' pool with wet deck. The sports hall is large enough for a full-sized basketball court or three volleyball courts and the fitness centre is equipped with state-of-the-art fitness and exercise equipment.
The Centre will offer a full range of activities, including recreation programmes, group exercise classes, learn to swim classes for all ages and abilities and aqua classes.
