A new Hornby library, customer services, and recreation and sport centre is planned for the growing south-west community.

Vision for the new Hornby Library, Customer Services, South West Leisure Centre

With more than 12,000 new homes expected in Christchurch’s south-west by 2044, the Council has approved a $35.7 million budget for facilities to serve the growing population. It's hoped to begin construction in early 2021, for a late 2022 opening.

For more information about the project, email HornbyFacility@ccc.govt.nz or subscribe to our newsletter below.

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Update: 30 April 2020

Progress on development of the new Hornby Library, Customer Services and Recreation and Sport Centre is underway, with no impact at this stage from COVID-19.

The design team, made up of Warren & Mahoney as the lead design consultant, Aecom as project managers, and Rawlinsons as quantity surveyors, has been working to develop the requirements for the different areas of the centre: the library, the service centre and the pools. These are being fed into the layout of the building. A number of different layouts have been developed and analysed for cost, to create an efficient and integrated service between all three areas.

The Kyle Park site of the facility, a former landfill, has been tested to see what gas produced by the landfill material is in the ground. Tonkin & Taylor collected landfill gas readings from its monitoring wells and found nothing unexpected, with a low rate of landfill gas being released. This is normal for landfills of this age, and the site is considered low risk. There are a number of simple solutions available to control any gas, such as membranes or venting layers beneath the building.

Read the landfill gas report here [PDF, 1.5 MB] and a summary here [PDF, 557 KB].

Tonkin & Taylor has also tested the groundwater below the site. They found that there is limited impact on the quality of this groundwater from the landfill waste material, and that it safely meets drinking water standards.

Read the groundwater report here [PDF, 1.5 MB] and a summary here [PDF, 889 KB].

Milestones

30 April 2020

Progress continues

Progress on development of the new Hornby facility is underway, with no impact at this stage from COVID-19. Tonkin & Taylor have tested the ground at Kyle Park for landfill gas and the groundwater below the site, and have found nothing unexpected.

9 March 2020

First contractors appointed

The Council has now appointed Warren & Mahoney as the lead design consultant, Aecom as project managers, and Rawlinsons as quantity surveyors.

12 September 2019

Scope confirmed

Councillors have agreed on the scope of Hornby’s new library, customer services, recreation and sport centre. Read more.(external link)

9 July 2019

Approval of the reclassification of part of Kyle Park

The Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board approved the reclassification of part of the reserve, along with management plan amendments, confirming the location for the facility after a years-long search. Read more.(external link)

17 June 2019

Hearings Panel backs change for Kyle Park

A Hearings Panel has recommended that the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board approves a change to the reserve classification for part of Kyle Park, along with management plan amendments. Read more.(external link)

1 May 2019

Strong response to Kyle Park consultation

More than 180 submissions were received on a proposed change to the reserve classification for Kyle Park. Read more.(external link)

11 March 2019

Consultation under way on change of use for Kyle Park

Consultation has begun on whether the Reserve Act classification on Kyle Park should be changed. Read more.(external link)

13 December 2018

Kyle Park preferred site for new pool and library

Christchurch City Council today approved Kyle Park as the preferred location for the new Hornby facility. Read more.(external link)

5 December 2018

New site eyed for Hornby community facilities

The Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board recommended Kyle Park as the site for the new facilities. Read the report to the Community Board here(external link), and read more about the decision here.(external link)

6 September 2018

Site search re-ignited

Christchurch City Council is working to quickly identify a new site where Hornby’s planned community facilities can be built. Read more.(external link)

6 July 2018

Board says no to Denton Park changes

At the recommendation of a Hearings Panel(external link), the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board decided not to change the Reserves Act classification on the south-east part of Denton Park. Read more.(external link)

4 May 2018

Panel hears final submissions on Denton Park

The Hearings Panel, made up of three Councillors and two Community Board members, considered 1475 written submissions, with 61 submitters requesting to be heard in person on proposed changes to the use of part of Denton Park. Read more.(external link)

19 January 2018

Council seeks views on Denton Park changes

Consultation officially opened(external link) on a proposal to alter the park’s Reserves Act classification so that the new Hornby facility can be built. Read more.(external link)

15 November 2017

Community leaders highlight need for pool

A high school principal, a community youth worker and an experienced Councillor have highlighted the growing need for a new pool – along with a local library – in one of the city’s fastest-growing areas. Read more.(external link)

24 August 2017

Council approves Denton Park site

Christchurch City Council voted in favour of using part of Denton Park(external link) as the site for Hornby’s planned new library, customer and leisure centre. Read more.(external link)

15 August 2017

Board picks site for new Hornby facility

Denton Park has been identified by the Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton Community Board as the preferred site. Read more.(external link)

26 April 2017

Consultation opens on site for new Hornby facility

Where should Hornby’s new library, customer services and leisure centre go? And should they be all together under one roof or built as separate facilities? Read more.(external link)