6 | Hunter Civil Ltd: Sumner Skatepark T T Richard Loader Skatepark dreams about to come true Hunter Civil has amassed a deep history in the construction of high-quality skateparks. Following the sod-turning ceremony in May this year, the eagerly awaited Sumner Skatepark is now under construction bringing much excitement to the community, both young and old. Located in Nayland Street, close to the shopping village on repurposed red zone land, the skatepark promises to be a top-tier facility and is being constructed by award-winning Christchurch firm Hunter Civil. Over the last decade, Hunter Civil has amassed a deep history in the construction of high-quality skateparks built in Christchurch and around the country as far afield as Waiheke Island. The company’s first skatepark development was the significant Washington St Skate Park in Christchurch, and it has continued to build a reputation for developing skateparks with a high level of concrete-surface finish. Engagement between the Christchurch City Council and the skateboard community has ensured key features attractive to skateboarders, both at a learner and advanced level, have been incorporated into the design. The 600sqm Sumner skatepark will feature two bowls, meticulously constructed with reinforced concrete for a perfectly smooth, glossy finish, and providing options for skaters with different skill levels. Site construction has included excavation to form the bowls, with other areas built up by importing gravel to form the terraced skatepark terrain. “The biggest feature is the Pool Bowl, so called because it’s like a large, old-school swimming pool and has a depth of 1.9 metres,” says Hunter Civil CEO Bryce Moir. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT “A smaller Flow Bowl has a depth of one metre and has different mounds that skaters can get a bit of a flow on as they transition from feature to feature. “The skate bowls were constructed with shotcrete and reinforced concrete, followed by trowelling and polishing for hours to achieve the perfect finish that transitions from all the features and meets skating requirements. “It takes a lot of skilled labour, and a lot of time to achieve that very high level of finish. It is an extremely labour-intensive task, and you need highly skilled people who have developed a track record and know fundamentally what skaters need.” Other features include a quarter-pipe transition, bounded by attractive timber and steel balustrades, to keep skaters in motion, and an array of street skating features, including banks with hubbers and grinding rails, offering challenges for advanced skaters. Some retaining walls and back edges of the raised quarter pipes have an exposed aggregate finish, coloured with dark oxide and speckled with ornamental white stone. Additional park amenities include timber benches, artificial grass seating areas with ornamental boulders, and large shade umbrellas. Adjacent to the skatepark, the Sumner Village Green encompasses a further 1000sqm and will offer picnic and BBQ spaces, a performance stage that can be used for public events, grassed areas, and native plantProud to support Hunter Civil Ltd Proudly supporting Hunter Civil Ltd Contact Brian Reedy – 021 270 4422 | runacres.co.nz Specialist Commercial Insurance Brokers based in Christchurch offering insurance advice to all Canterbury Businesses 03 354 8204 | luke@ssdl.co.nz www.subsurfacecivildrilling.co.nz SUBSURFACE CIVIL & DRILLING LTD • Trenchless Installations • PE & Butt Welding • Civil Works • Underground Infrastructure • Hydro Excavation (Hire) • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) • Drainage / Water Reticulation ing, creating a welcoming space for the entire family. The Christchurch City Council project is expected to be completed late this year. “All earthworks have now been completed, along with some of the large concrete pours on the pool bowl and we are moving forward on some of the other features,” says Bryce. “Concreting during winter is challenging with low temperatures, and that can protract the finishing process, which makes it more susceptible to adverse weather and rain. “The team is continuously having to erect temporary shelters and tents to protect the concrete from rain to achieve that high level of finish, which we have built our reputation on. It is a very exciting project to be involved in and to continue our legacy and reputation for skatepark construction, close to home. The team know what they are doing, and they are doing a great job.” Founded in 2008, Hunter Civil is headquartered in Christchurch, and operates predominantly around the South Island, stretching into the North Island depending on the project. Hunter Civil tends to focus on the more technically challenging civil construction projects including bridges, retaining walls, wastewater infrastructure such as pump stations, concrete storm water structures, and of course skateparks. Through a willingness to push the boundaries of what others believe is possible, Hunter Civil consistently delivers outstanding results and exceed expectations. “Industry award-winning projects are a testament to the outstanding capabilities of our team and the innovative solutions we develop to meet our clients’ needs,” says Bryce.
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