Planning rule changes designed to manage the noise from the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena will be considered by Christchurch City Council next week.

Proposed amendments include introducing noise limits to help avoid extremes of noise, a concert finishing time of 11pm, a cap of 15 concert days per calendar year “to give residents certainty about the frequency of noisy events, and a requirement for a noise management plan.”

The 25,000-seat, 36,000-capacity covered arena is the final anchor project in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan.

Council Head of Planning and Strategic Policy David Griffiths said “the public has already had an opportunity to give feedback on what type of rules they think are needed to manage noise issues appropriately and will have another chance now we have proposed what some of these could be.”

“It is important these rules both enable the arena to operate successfully, and make a significant contribution  to the city’s – and region’s – economy, but also manage noise effects for residents living close to the arena, and do not discourage  further residential development or redevelopment in the central city.”

The Canterbury Multi-Use Arena is scheduled to open by the end of 2024.