ENGEO was lead geotechnical consultant for the Christchurch Adventure Park (CAP). The CAP is a purpose-built downhill bike park operating only five minutes from Christchurch’s CBD with a high-speed chairlift designed and built for the purpose of transporting mountain bikers and their bikes.
The CAP was developed by Select Evolution and Port Hills Leisure and is a lift accessed downhill bike park located on the Port Hills in Christchurch. The outdoor adventure park land covers 900 hectares and is made up of two valleys that is used for the bike trails, zip lines and adventure trails. Located in a market that is renowned for sport loving people and an adventure tourism destination, the park also provides an assortment of ancillary activities catering to a wide but highly accessible market.
ENGEO conducted preliminary geotechnical advice for the Resource Consent process and commenced detailed investigations and design in September 2015. The geotechnical work comprised of detailed geological mapping of the chairlift route, rockfall assessment and geotechnical investigations for structures.
Structures included the 2 km long chairlift, up to 15 accommodation and hospitality structures, zip lines and a planned mountain coaster. ENGEO also completed environmental work required during construction and oversaw all of the civil engineer works including the design and construction of pavements, tracks, stream restoration and stormwater and sediment retention basins.
The construction period for the project was compressed from 18 months to 8 months in order to open in the summer of 2016. Opening date was set for December 2016 and the team worked around the clock to make sure this deadline was met.
ENGEO impressed the client by delivering geotechnical engineering, chairlift and zipline foundations, rockfall hazard assessments, hydrological and environmental monitoring all in a constrained eight month time frame.
ENGEO demonstrated excellent client service and delivered on time and within budget. Excelling as a trusted advisor and proving meritorious work with an elegant and collaborative delivery of consulting services, ENGEO was awarded a 2017 ACENZ Innovate Merit achievement award.
“Select Contracts has worked with ENGEO on several development and construction projects including Christchurch Adventure Park, and my experience doing business with them has always been an enjoyable one. So much of the work done on the front end of a project is critical to its success, and ENGEO never fails to deliver in the quality of service that they provide. They have continually approached our projects with proficiency, and the level of responsiveness they offer during those crucial times is reassuring. They are not only capable, but also down-to-earth and incredibly easy to work with”. Chris Sutton
Photos courtesy of Richard Goldsbury
