Christchurch's chances of hosting World Cup matches moved a step closer when a proposal to upgrade a section of a public park into an international-standard venue were given the all clear by a New Zealand court on Wednesday.
New Zealand's second largest city had been provisionally awarded three pool games for the 2015 tournament, including the opener, last month by organisers pending the outcome of the Environment Court decision.
The city's previous multi-sports venue Lancaster Park was wrecked by the Feb 22, 2011 earthquake that devastated the city and killed just under 200 people and local cricket authorities submitted plans for the development of a venue on Hagley Park, which borders the central city.
The court, however, placed several conditions on the use of the ground, including restrictions on the number of match days and removal of part of the lighting towers at the end of the cricket season.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks