Government of Canada Gas Tax Fund Grant helps ease stress of Aquatic Centre renovations
By Brendan Quinn
Thanks to a grant of nearly $4.6 Million, renovations at the Nelson and District Aquatic Centre are all of a sudden a great idea.
Friday afternoon, the curtains were dropped and Nelson residents had a chance to finally see what’s been going on behind the scenes at the NDCC new aquatic centre.
Mayor Deb Kozak and several members of the City Council were on hand to welcome guests and the excitement was palpable as the veil of silence surrounding the project was lifted.
“The commission is thrilled and very grateful,” Kozak said, visibly excited.
“When we found out we were getting the funding it was like ‘Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,” she continued, thanking both levels of government.
The funding itself came mostly through an enormous grant courtesy of the Government of Canada’s Gas Tax fund, $4.597 Million.
This grant is the largest in its 50-year history for the Central Kootenays and came as quite a surprise.
Ramona Faust, director for Area E, said that when she received the phone call regarding the grant she was at home caring for her four-year-old granddaughter.
“I just screamed and almost dropped her; she was the only one I could tell,” Faust said. “We’re very lucky.”
The grant, combined with $723,000 form the district, will not only be used for the current construction, but will have enough left over for a maintenance fund allowing for continued upkeep.
The total budget for the project, including all planning, design, construction management and renovations is $5.32 million.
“The importance of this grant to recreation in our region cannot be overstated,” said Valerie Warmington, Chair of the Nelson and District Recreation Commission in a press release.
“This funding partnership with the Government of Canada and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities ensures that we are now in a much better position to undertake critical upgrades immediately while also saving to effectively manage our critical reaction assets in the future,” she said.
The upgrades to the centre are many in number, including critical upgrades to both the pool itself and various mechanical, electrical and chemical systems throughout building.
Other renovations and improvements will include:
- A new 2.7m dive platform
- New sauna and storage
- A recontoured dive tank and new pool drains
- New deck, gutters, tank and deck tiles
- New electrical panels and equipment
- Relocated lifeguard station allowing better views and supervision
- Renovated change rooms with new lockers and fixtures
Unitech Construction Management Ltd. was hired to manage the project, and a representative stated how important it was they sourced local trades for the work.
The aquatic centre will remain closed until August-September, with construction beginning on October 1st of last year and is expected to last 11 months.
A precise date will be announced in the later stages of construction.
