23 Dec 2021

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Businesses and neighbours of the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena now have certainty about how many concerts and large events can be held there as Christchurch City Council’s recommended planning rule changes to manage noise from the venue have been approved.

Associate Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr Megan Woods approved the Council’s recommended plan changes under legislation that was in place to help with the city's regeneration.

Christchurch City Council’s Head of Strategic Policy and Resilience, David Griffiths, says the new rules will strike a balance between catalysing Christchurch’s regeneration and give nearby residents certainty on the number of events that can be held.

“The approved noise limits and a cap on the number of loud events provide certainty and enable the half-a-billion-dollar Arena to boost Christchurch’s economy and vitality, while also effectively managing the amount, and frequency, of noise for neighbours,” Mr Griffiths says.

“The approved changes will now be made to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and the Christchurch District Plan.”

The new rules include:

  • Introducing noise limits for concerts and PA systems.
  • A concert finishing time of 11pm (except for New Year’s Eve, when concerts could go until 12:30am).
  • A cap of six louder concert events and nine less loud concert events per calendar year to give residents certainty about the maximum frequency of events.
  • A requirement for a noise management plan, real-time compliance monitoring, a noise liaison committee to be established, and an amended noise insulation rule for new buildings in the area.

There will be no limits to the number of sporting events or concerts producing less than 65dB outside the Arena.

The 30,000-seat covered arena is the final anchor project in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and its ability to host All Black tests, Football World Cup qualifiers, big concerts and other events will boost the city’s economy and vitality, and help enhance Canterbury’s sporting and cultural identity.

The CMUA’s Preliminary Design will go to the Council for approval next month, with the Developed Design due in April 2022.

You can read the Minister’s decision here.

For more information and regular updates on the CMUA, visit canterburyarena.co.nz.