New timelapse video as ground improvement work nears completion

A new three-month timelapse construction video of Te Kaha, Canterbury’s Multi-Use Arena, has been published, bringing into sharp focus the extent of the work being carried out and the magnitude of the $683 million project.

Captured from the BESIX Watpac offices on Tuam St, the one-minute timelapse documents the ground improvement works being carried out across the site, before the substructure (foundations) and major concrete pours begin from the south-west corner.

Te Kaha Project Delivery chief executive David Kennedy says the ground improvement works – where rammed aggregate piers are pushed deep into the land – is on track to be completed ahead of schedule.

Drone footage from last week

Project management company RCP captured some great drone video and images of progress taking place on Te Kaha last week.

In this footage you can see the ground improvement rigs nearing completion in the north-east corner of the site, and the substructure and perimeter of the 30,000-seat covered arena starting to emerge.

You can check out a range of photos that the drone captured by clicking the link below.

Latest site camera image

Above is a photo that was taken of the Te Kaha site from BESIX Watpac's offices on Monday morning. You can see vertical reinforcing steel for the ground floor concrete columns of the western and southern stands, and the poured concrete of the substructure (foundations and underground supports) now extending across the southern and western stands. 

Around the arena's perimeter you can see that an all-weather surface of AP65 and AP40 gravel has been added to high-traffic areas. This will minimise mud over the winter months and manage any dust during drier periods.

The large 300-tonne capacity crawler crane in the middle of the shot takes care of all the heavy lifting. It is currently helping install the reinforcing, and will also be used to lift the concrete formwork and structural steel later in the project.

You can check out a library of our weekly progress images by clicking below, then scrolling down to the 'site progress images' drop-down.

What to expect over the coming months

The next six months of the Te Kaha project will be mainly focused on progressing the arena's substructure (foundations and underground supports), and starting the superstructure bowl.

Because of the huge size of the project, the different stages will overlap to streamline the process. That means as one phase of work progresses across the site (working from south to north), the next phase will follow closely behind it.

Q2 2023 - Ground improvement works completed, structural elements to start rising out of the superstructure in the south-western corner.

Q3 2023 – Substructure concrete pours scheduled to be completed.