Facilities, Sport & recreation  |  9 Oct 2019

The popular Graham Condon Recreation and Sport Centre will undergo a refresh this summer.

This is the most significant maintenance and refurbishment work to be carried out on the well-used facility since it opened eight years ago and will require it to be closed temporarily.

The refresh will start in mid-January 2020 and includes work to improve the efficiency of the facility,  such as changing to LED lighting. Other work includes painting, replacement of showers and toilets, floor covering replacements and poolside works such as tiling repairs.

The main hall and gym will be completed first and re-open in early February, while the remainder of the centre – including pools – will re-open in early April 2020.

Head of Recreation, Sports and Events Nigel Cox says the facility has had a lot of use since opening, especially as other recreation and sports centres were closed or damaged after the earthquakes.

“Since Graham Condon opened in October 2011, a huge number of people have made use of the facility. It’s definitely time for it to have deferred maintenance completed to ensure it is modern, efficient and well maintained for continued community use.

“We thank the public for their patience as we carry out this much needed work and hope they look forward to seeing and experiencing the benefits it will bring.”

Over the last two years refurbishments have also been carried out on Pioneer and Jellie Park Recreation and Sports Centres.

Mr Cox says as other new facilities like He Puna Taimoana in New Brighton, the Metro Sports facility, Te Pou Toetoe in Linwood, and the planned library, customer services and recreation and sport centre in Hornby are built they will be added into the Council’s scheduled maintenance programme.

“It’s important to regularly maintain these popular assets for the community.”

During the closure period the community are encouraged to use Jellie Park Recreation and Sports Centre and Tairoa QEII or the Council’s outside pools, which are open over the summer. People with specific memberships at Graham Condon will be able to use other centres.