We're building a new community facility at the Shirley Community Reserve.
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A new Shirley Community Facility is being built at the Shirley Community Reserve.
The original Shirley Community Centre was damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and subsequently demolished in 2012.
After several rounds of community consultation, the Waipapa Papanui-Central-Innes Community Board approved the design and build of a new community facility for Shirley in December 2025.
Construction on the facility started in July 2026 and is expected to take around six months to complete. With construction progressing well, we have developed a proposed plan for developing the Shirley Community Reserve. View the plans and have your say before 13 September(external link).
The 280m2 building will include a function room, a kitchen, office space, two meeting rooms, external public toilets, and on-site parking. Solar panels and battery storage will also be included.
The previous Shirley Community Centre, at 10 Shirley Road in the Shirley Community Reserve, was home to a number of community focussed organisations and programmes.
The centre was damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and subsequently demolished in 2012.
Following demolition of the building, a basketball court, playground, pump track and green space was added to the reserve in place of the community centre.
Between 2012 and 2019, multiple feasibility studies concluded mixed public views on whether a new building was needed. Engagement in 2020 and subsequent Long Term Plan submissions reaffirmed strong local interest in a community facility being rebuilt at the Shirley Reserve.
A developed design was presented to the Waipapa Papanui-Central-Innes Community Board at their 11 September 2025 meeting. In response, the board made several resolutions including direction to expand the building footprint from 180m2 to 280m2.
The board approved the amended design at their meeting on 11 December 2025.
The 280m2 building will include a function room, a kitchen, office space, two meeting rooms, external public toilets, and on-site parking. Solar panels and battery storage will also be included.
Construction started in July 2026 and is expected to be completed in late 2026.
Wednesday 26 August 2026.
Construction update
Eight weeks into construction, the earthworks are complete, foundations are laid and the team has moved on to erecting the framing. In an exciting milestone for the project, work on the roof is starting this week. Construction is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.
Shirley Community Reserve development plan
With the construction of the new community facility on track, we've developed a proposed plan to improve the Shirley Community Reserve with a new play space, pump track, plaza space, basketball court and skate area.
We're also planning to add a wheel skills area for learning and practising biking, scootering and skateboarding. View the plans and tell us what you think by 13 September 2026(external link).
2011
Canterbury earthquakes damage the Shirley Community Centre.
2012
Shirley Community Centre demolished after sustaining earthquake damage.
2012 - 2019
Feasibility studies for a replacement building carried out.
2020
Community consultation carried out.
2025
- Developed design for replacement community facility presented to Waipapa Papanui-Central-Innes Community Board at their 11 September meeting.
- The updated design was approved by the Waipapa Papanui-Central-Innes Community Board at their 11 December meeting. Read more on Newsline(external link).
2026
- Sod turning for new Shirley Community Facility takes place 3 July.
- Construction of new Shirley Community Facility starts 6 July.
- Construction of the Shirley Community Facility is expected to finish in late 2026.
2011
Canterbury earthquakes damage the Shirley Community Centre.
2012
Shirley Community Centre demolished after sustaining earthquake damage.
2012 - 2019
Feasibility studies for a replacement building carried out.
2020
Community consultation carried out.
2025
- Developed design for replacement community facility presented to Waipapa Papanui-Central-Innes Community Board at their 11 September meeting.
- The updated design was approved by the Waipapa Papanui-Central-Innes Community Board at their 11 December meeting. Read more on Newsline(external link).
2026
- Sod turning for new Shirley Community Facility takes place 3 July.
- Construction of new Shirley Community Facility starts 6 July.
- Construction of the Shirley Community Facility is expected to finish in late 2026.
Our contractors will be working Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. At times, there may be some noise, dust and vibration associated with the work. Some parking will be temporarily unavailable during the works.
Access to parts of the reserve will be maintained, but the construction compound, which will be fenced, is not open to the public. Please follow all safety signage.
Thank you for your patience while we build a new community facility for Shirley.
Exterior view
Exterior and carpark
Exterior side view
Interior view, including kitchen
Interior view, function space
