12 May 2012

Appeal Millions to Boost Christchurch Sport Recovery

The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust today announced details of $2 million in sports grants to help a range of sports that have large community participation, to recover from the earthquakes.
Without help from the Appeal Trust it is unlikely that these sports projects would receive funding in the foreseeable future.

The $2 million will fund:

  • Hockey: $1 million towards construction of a third hockey turf at Nunweek Park to, in part address the loss of damaged community facilities at Porritt Park. This will provide Canterbury’s 4000 hockey players with an additional turf to practice and play on, relieving the demand for turf space at all levels of the sport.
  • Rowing: $576,000 to build two boat storage sheds, a communal toilet facility and a security fence at Kerr’s Reach, and one boat shed at Stewarts Gully. Boats and rowing equipment can then be easily accessed by rowers of all ages, particularly benefitting school-aged rowers.
  • Bowls: $145,000 to repair bowling greens at 14 clubs in the city and enable 1200 members to start playing again in the 2012/13 season. The 14 clubs are Beckenham, Bowls Papanui, Bowls Woolston, Canterbury, Cashmere, Dallington, Edgeware, Elmwood, Parklands, South Brighton, Spreydon, Sumner, Tai Tapu and Woolston Park.
  • Cricket: $233,000 for repairs to cricket grounds at Garrick Park, Sydenham Park, Elmwood Park and St James Park, and the Heathcote Cricket Club’s pavilion. Sydenham and Elmwood Parks were repaired in time for the 2011/12 cricket season, while St James Park will re-open for the 2012/13 cricket season. Garrick Park re-opens for football play next weekend.


Appeal Trustee Dr Rod Carr says “these projects will benefit the thousands of people in Canterbury who play these sports and use these facilities every week.”
“Sport is an integral part of New Zealanders’ way of life and it is important that the people of Christchurch can continue to take part in sport and recreational activities. The Trustees hope that the restoration of these facilities goes some way to returning a sense of normality to communities,” says Dr Carr.

  • Construction of the new turf at Nunweek Park began this week and hockey players can expect it to be open for the 2013 season.
  • Building consents for the rowing projects are progressing and the facilities are expected to be ready by 1 September 2012 and the start of the season.
  • Repairs to greens at the 14 bowling clubs have begun, to be ready for play mid-November 2012.
  • Construction on the Heathcote Cricket Club pavilion will begin once building consent has been granted.

The Appeal Trustees acknowledge the significant contribution of services in kind, currently under consideration by Fulton Hogan to provide major site works at Kerr’s Reach.


The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust has committed funds of around $43 million to a range of projects including temporary pools in schools, replacement of St John emergency equipment, the Westpac business and community hub, a financial decision guide for Canterbury red zone residents, replacement of musical instruments and sports equipment, and the rebuild of the Arts Centre.