Sport Canterbury has described Christchurch's new sport centre price blow-out as gob smacking.

Contractor CPB has increased its claim by more than $200 million to $439 million, sparking a legal dispute with government delivery agency Rau Paenga — formerly Otakaro Limited.

Sport Canterbury chief executive Julyan Falloon told Jack Tame the prospect of further delays is heartbreaking.

“But to question Rau Paenga’s design at this stage when the facility’s 70 percent completed is sort of becoming a little bit farcical from our perspective.”

The increased claim will bring the project's total value to $696 million.

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