It comes as the Southern Orcas \u2013 who are backed by ex-Kiwis and Manly coach Sir Graham Lowe and his long-time business partner, former New Zealand Rugby League chairman Andrew Chalmers \u2013 push to secure a lucrative deal to join the top-tier Australian rugby league competition.<\/p>\n
Lowe says the vision was for a world-class regional high-performance asset, rather than a facility serving one team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Southern Orcas and all of our stakeholders are working to secure the NRL\u2019s 20th licence for Christchurch and the South Island. If successful, this facility would be central to our long-term high-performance programme, but the Centre of Excellence vision is much broader than one team or one code,\u201d Lowe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to create a world-class multi-sport Centre of Excellence, supporting high-performance training, sports science, medical and rehabilitation services, athlete development programmes, indoor training and specialist performance support.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would give talented young athletes across Canterbury and the South Island access to facilities and expertise that are not currently available at this scale, while attracting professional teams, elite sporting programmes, visiting athletes and specialist talent to the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Southern Orcas would be proud to be an anchor tenant, but the larger objective is to create a shared high-performance asset that helps grow elite sport, employment, investment, athlete pathways and regional capability for decades.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carter Group\u2019s Tim Carter said the combination of housing, education, community infrastructure and elite sport makes the proposal unique.<\/p>\n
\u201cJames Gammack used the success he achieved from farming to benefit others. This proposal would continue that practical tradition by helping meet the housing, education and infrastructure needs of one of Canterbury\u2019s fastest-growing areas, while also creating the opportunity for a major new high-performance sporting asset for the region,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n
A media release from Carter Group today said that referral under the Fast-track Approvals Act would not constitute approval of the development and that the proposal would still be subject to the full statutory assessment process before any final decision is made.<\/p>\n
The Southern Orcas consortium hopes to become the 20th NRL team when the competition expands, potentially as early as 2029 \u2013 based in Christchurch.<\/p>\n
The bid is one of several that has been proposed for Christchurch in recent years. <\/p>\n
And even though it\u2019s in its early days, the Southern Orcas already have a jersey and have made waves across the Tasman. <\/p>\n
The Southern Orcas released renders of both a home and away jersey that plays on the black-and-white colours of the orca. It also features an element of red.<\/p>\n
As reported by the Australian, Chalmers says the orca is the perfect symbol for their club.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt combines intelligence with strength. It doesn\u2019t rely on aggression alone \u2013 it succeeds through teamwork, communication, leadership and precision. That\u2019s the culture we\u2019re building at the Southern Orcas,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The managing director says the franchise have \u201cdeliberately set out to create one of the most distinctive identities in professional sport\u201d. <\/p>\n
They wouldn\u2019t be the first professional franchise to use the orca as their team symbol or mascot \u2013 others include the Vancouver Canucks (NHL), the Seattle Orcas (Major League Cricket) and the Ulsan Whales (South Korean baseball). The Wellington rugby league team also use the name.<\/p>\n
The concept design of the Southern Orcas playing kit.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur logo and jersey tell a uniquely New Zealand story through the movement of the Southern Ocean, the unity of the pod and the relentless pursuit of excellence,\u201d Chalmers said. <\/p>\n
\u201cFrom day one, we wanted to create more than another sporting crest. We wanted a world-class identity that could stand proudly alongside the biggest brands in the NRL and become one of the competition\u2019s most recognisable jerseys. What the jersey means is important.\u201d<\/p>\n
One NZ Stadium in Christchurch hosted NZ Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys last month and would be home to the Southern Orcas if their bid to join the NRL was successful. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Lowe, the Southern Orcas chairman, reiterated the importance and symbolism of the playing kit. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Southern Orcas logo and jersey are about far more than a football uniform. They\u2019re the visual identity of an entire region that has been waiting for its place in the NRL,\u201d Lowe said.<\/p>\n
The team would play out of Christchurch\u2019s new covered One New Zealand Stadium.<\/p>\n