Jellie Park 2026: Pool Closure, Renewals Project and What Ratepayers Are Funding
Major Projects | By Harpreet Singh | 16 April 2026 | 7 min read
Jellie Park in Burnside is one of Christchurch's most-used aquatic and recreation centres. CCC's pool renewals project is replacing ageing infrastructure to keep the facility running for another generation. Here is what is being done, what is closed, and what it costs.
Jellie Park Renewals: Estimated Budget by Component ($000s)
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Pool shell and structural | 4800 k |
| Plant and filtration | 2600 k |
| Changing rooms and amenities | 1400 k |
| Heating and energy systems | 900 k |
| Access and safety upgrades | 600 k |
Christchurch Aquatic Facility Capital Investment (Approximate, $M)
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Parakiore (new QEII) | 220 M |
| Jellie Park renewals | 11 M |
| Pioneer Pool renewals | 8 M |
| Taiora QEII upgrades | 5 M |
Jellie Park is Christchurch's second-busiest aquatic and recreation centre, behind the new Parakiore facility that opened on the former QEII site in 2024. Located at 40 Peer Street in Burnside, it serves the northern and north-western suburbs - particularly the high-density family population around Burnside, Bishopdale, and Papanui.
The council's Jellie Park Pool Renewals project is an essential maintenance investment. The centre was built in the 1990s and its key infrastructure - pools, filtration systems, heating plant - is reaching end of life. Without this investment, parts of the centre would face prolonged closure or permanent retirement.
What Is Being Renewed
The renewals project covers five main work packages:
Pool shell and structural works: The competition and leisure pools require structural refurbishment. Over decades of use, pool shells develop micro-fractures and surface degradation that affects water quality and structural integrity. This is the largest component of the works programme.
Plant and filtration systems: Jellie Park's water treatment and filtration plant is original equipment, now operating well beyond its standard design life. Modern filtration systems are significantly more energy-efficient and use lower chemical inputs. Replacement reduces ongoing operating costs while improving water quality.
Changing rooms and amenities: The changing facilities are being upgraded to meet current accessibility standards and to improve the user experience for the large school and learn-to-swim user groups that form a significant part of Jellie Park's regular audience.
Heating and energy systems: The existing heating plant is being replaced with a more efficient system. Given Jellie Park's high energy consumption (heated indoor pools run year-round), the new plant will reduce the council's operating expenditure over the project's life.
Access and safety: Pathway, lighting, and safety surface upgrades to meet current standards.
What Is Currently Closed
As of 2026, portions of the Jellie Park facility have been closed or restricted during works. The council has staged the programme to maintain as much service continuity as possible, keeping learn-to-swim and recreational swimming operational through much of the works period.
For current opening hours and which pools are in service, check the CCC website directly or the Jellie Park information page - the programme schedule has been subject to adjustment as works have progressed. For school groups and learn-to-swim programmes, alternative arrangements at other CCC facilities have been made where access is restricted.
The Ratepayer Cost
The Jellie Park Pool Renewals project is funded through the council's capital works programme, drawing on rates revenue over the Long Term Plan period. It appears in the CCC capital projects dashboard as a renewals project - maintaining an existing asset rather than creating new capacity.
The context matters here. The council's approach to aquatic infrastructure in Christchurch has shifted significantly following the Parakiore decision. The new Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre (the replacement for QEII, which was damaged in the 2011 earthquake) is a $220M-plus facility that anchors the eastern side of the city. Jellie Park serves the western and northern side. Pioneer Pool in Addington serves the inner south.
Rather than building new, the council's current strategy for Jellie Park and Pioneer Pool is to extend the life of existing facilities through targeted renewals. This is the lower-cost path compared to replacement, and it keeps geographically dispersed aquatic access across the city - important given that Parakiore, while excellent, is not centrally located for residents in Burnside, Bishopdale, or Papanui.
How It Fits the Broader Capital Programme
The Jellie Park Renewals project is one of many aquatic and recreation asset renewals in the council's $5.24B capital programme. You can explore the full programme on the Council Projects dashboard, where projects can be filtered by category (including Recreation and Sport) and by status.
At the city level, CCC is spending approximately $185M on parks, recreation, and sport across the 10-year Long Term Plan. This includes the Parakiore completion costs, multiple pool renewals, playground renewals across all suburbs, and the development of new facilities in growth areas like Halswell.
Your rates contribute to this programme. For a $780,000 Burnside home (roughly the suburb median), the total annual rates contribution is approximately $4,000, covering infrastructure, recreation, transport, water, and the other services the council provides. Use the rates calculator to see your specific contribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jellie Park pool closed in 2026? Portions of the Jellie Park facility have been closed for renewals works, with the council staging the programme to maintain service continuity. The current status of specific pools changes as works progress. For the latest information on which areas are open, check the CCC website or the Jellie Park page directly.
How much is the Jellie Park pool renewals project costing? The Jellie Park Pool Renewals project has an estimated total cost in the range of $10-$12 million, covering pool structural works, plant and filtration replacement, changing room upgrades, and energy system renewal. It appears in the council's capital programme as a renewals (maintenance) project. You can view the project in the tracker.
When will Jellie Park be fully open again? The council has staged the works to minimise disruption, but full completion timing depends on contractor progress and works sequencing. For the most current reopening timeline, check CCC's official communications or the Jellie Park information page.
How does Jellie Park compare to Parakiore? Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre (formerly the QEII site in Christchurch East) is a new $220M-plus facility opened in 2024 with a 50m competition pool, leisure pools, hydroslides, and a full indoor sports hall. Jellie Park is an older facility serving the northern suburbs with a different scale and catchment. The council's plan is to run both facilities as complementary parts of the city's aquatic network.
What other pool renewals are happening in Christchurch? Pioneer Pool in Addington is also undergoing renewals works. You can find both projects in the council capital projects dashboard. The Christchurch rates breakdown gives an overview of how the recreation budget fits within the full CCC spending picture.