Work on Te Kaha streets split in two
The Christchurch City Council is pushing ahead with $11.4 million of water pipe upgrades so the toilets will flush at the new stadium Te Kaha.
It could mean the streets surrounding the stadium have to be dug up twice, but mayor Phil Mauger says that was always going to happen anyway.
The water pipe upgrades are part of the $34m Te Kaha surrounding streets project, which includes a plan to widen footpaths, and lower speed limits on Lichfield, Madras, Tuam and Barbadoes streets to 10kph or 30kph. The upgrade was meant to help the area cope with an influx of pedestrians and traffic during large events.
But the project has now been split, with only the water pipe upgrades going ahead at the end of July. It was reported in April that the above ground work could cost the council another $13m because Government funding of 51% was no longer guaranteed.
Mauger confirmed yesterday the additional money had not been included in the council’s 10-year budget, the long-term plan (LTP, which was being signed off this week.
A report was expected to come to council in August, which was likely to include options on whether to carry on with the above ground work, pause or rescope it. NZ Transport Agency-Waka Kotahi (NZTA) was not likely to make a decision on funding the project until late this year.
Council acting city infrastructure general manager Brent Smith said the water upgrades were time critical and were included in existing council budgets, not affected by NZTA funding decisions. “There’s a lot to do to get ready for Te Kaha opening in April 2026. We’re taking a staged approach, starting by upgrading the water supply and wastewater infrastructure around the arena on Lichfield, Madras and Barbadoes streets.”
Parts of the pipe network in the area were due for replacement and other elements were being upgraded to support Te Kaha, Smith said. He said the remaining transport stages would be scoped and scheduled progressively, as the council got more clarity about Government funding.
But, central ward councillor Jake McLellan said he would be disappointed if the lack of clarity from the Government delayed the street scape project. He said it would be a disaster for Christchurch if people going to an event at Te Kaha were met with a sea of road cones.
Mauger said there was always going to be disruption on the streets twice due to the nature of the replacing underground pipes.
The water upgrade, being carried out by Isaac Construction, was expected to be completed in early 2025. Some lane closures and night works would be required.
More than 1200 people provided feedback on the project last year, including prominent city developers Philip Carter and Shaun Stockman, who threatened to delay projects and stop investing in the city, if the original design, which involved making Lichfield St between Manchester and Madras one-way, went ahead. The council decided to keep Lichfield St two-way.