Construction work is steadily progressing on Christchurch’s troubled metro sports facility, the Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre.
The ambitious project's one of the last outstanding post-earthquake anchor projects for the city, but has been plagued by delays and rising costs.
The latest increase saw the price tag for the sports centre jump to an estimated $365 million, that's almost $50 million more than was originally budgeted, after an increase to $317 million earlier in the year.
The complex project is being managed by Rau Paenga, the crown infrastructure delivery agency.
It's blaming inflation and insurance increases, Covid costs and the disposal of contaminated soil for the delays, along with a geologically tough location.
Construction began back in 2018, on what's set to be the country's largest indoor sports and aquatics facility, which would offer everything from learn to swim classes through to elite sporting fixtures.
By Geoff Sloan
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air