Eagle-eyed locals will have spotted the first sections of the Multi-Use Sports Facility frame (which we’re now calling Stadium Waimakariri) have sprouted up in Coldstream Road.

While this is just a small section of framing, it signals a magnitude of work which has taken place to date.

The stadium is being constructed in six zones. The work that can be seen focuses on zones one and five which are the gym or fitness area as well as the court storage and service areas.

Work includes preparing the site foundation to hold the structural steel of the large facility, off-site steel fabrication, stormwater drainage and the first series of building inspections.

Site Cam: 28 October 2019

Site Cam: 5 December 2019

In short, a lot of the unseen work has been completed and Leighs Construction are currently bang on or slightly ahead of schedule. But each new zone will require similar ‘unseen’ work to prepare the zone foundations.

In the coming months a lot of steel will be delivered to site and steel framing will be progressively erected until September 2020.

The new facility will cost around $28m, be approximately 6,000m2 in size and house four indoor courts configured for futsall, handball, korfball, volleyball, netball, badminton and basketball. It will also house a central fitness facility, change rooms, coaching and meeting space and seat around 500 spectators.

The site on Coldstream Road in Rangiora places the Multi-Use Sports Facility near other sporting grounds such as the Mainpower Oval for cricket, Waimakariri Hockey Turf and the Maria Andrews Park football ground. It’s also beside the land earmarked for a proposed tennis club.

Once complete the facility will be operated by the North Canterbury Sport and Recreation Trust. Its expected construction will finish in around May 2021.