The government has a new plan to get Christchurch's problem-plagued Metro Sports Facility anchor project back on track.

It was supposed to open last year but construction hasn't even started.

Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Megan Woods says it was facing an unacceptable and "very disappointing" $75 million budget blow out.

She's cancelling the early contractor involvement ordered by the previous government and has told officials to urgently get the project back on track.

Christchurch Crown company Otakaro will complete the design and a new build-only contract will be put out.

"This will be completed by March/April 2018, allowing for the facility to be opened in the first quarter of 2021 if we proceed with this contract," Ms Woods said.

"We want action and momentum, not the delays and roadblocks we have seen in years past."

In 2012, the previous Government set a budget of $206m in the original cost sharing agreement for the project.

This was expanded in 2015 to a design and build contract with a budget of $246.3m, funded by the government and the Christchurch City Council through a cost sharing agreement which limited the council's contribution to $147m.

Since taking office the new government has been told by officials that the final project cost would see the total construction cost pushed up by $75m to a total cost of $321m.