Parakiore (Part Two): Multisport Facility At Risk of Liquefaction or Sinking?
Rau Paenga's Chief Executive John O'Hagan discusses liquefaction, public confusion over the "sinking" facility, and what work done CPB is doing to shore up the ground to guard against earthquakes.
Rau Paenga Chief Executive John O’Hagan has slammed speculation that the city’s multisport facility is sinking.
O’Hagan acknowledges the facility has dropped 90 centimeters in one “small” area.
Source: Rau Paenga Limited (formerly Otakaro Limited)
Pictured: A shot of the Moorhouse Avenue end of the Parakiore sporting complex.
Commencing in 2019, head contractor CPB has been building a dive pool, 50-meter, 10-lane swimming pool, a netball and basketball court, retractable spectator stand, hydro-slide, gym and other amenities as part of the state-of-the-art aquatic and sporting facility.
But the build has been dogged by delays, cost overruns, and a breakdown that culminated in an unsuccessful bid made by CPB in the High Court to exit the unhappy contractual relationship. The Christchurch City Council, which will assume control of the facility, has said that the landmark facility will be completed by 2025.
Pictured: The Southern end of Parakiore sporting complex.
Of greater concern is a rumour the facility is sinking. This could mean the city’s ratepayers will be forced to pay to maintain the facility as parts of the foundations continue to sink unevenly into what one former city powerbroker thought to be shoddy ground unfit to house a facility this kind.
Chief John O’Hagan oversees Rau Paenga the Crown agency charged with completing the multi-million-dollar build.
“The site’s high water table was a well-known challenge for this project before construction even began. To avoid installing the majority of the pools into this ground, the site was raised up to two metres in places. This is why Parakiore sits higher than the neighbouring streets.”
“All large buildings like Parakiore settle as more weight gets added to the foundation during the construction process,” wrote O’Hagan.
“Tolerances are built into the design to cater for this. We appreciate there appears to be some ongoing confusion in the public domain between this and work to strengthen a small area of softer soil to the south of the aquatics building, otherwise known as subsidence.”
Subsidence at the Southern End Posing Liquefaction Risk
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