The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) is moving forward with obtaining detailed design and engineering plans for the new indoor aquatic centre in Golden.
The completion of this design work will lead to the construction phase of the project, which is targeted to take place between 2024 and 2026.
At the January 19 Regular Board Meeting, Directors voted unanimously in favour of hiring HCMA Architecture + Design to develop all the design plans and construction drawings for a total cost of $1.8 million. HCMA has already been involved with the project, having conducted the previous feasibility study and public engagement process that led to the successful referendum on borrowing funds to develop the new $35 million indoor aquatic centre.
“HCMA brings outstanding familiarity and resources to the project to design the building and mechanical systems in the most cost-effective and carbon-neutral way,” said Darcy Mooney, Manager, Operations.
With the approval of Electoral Area A Director Karen Cathcart, the Board also agreed to allocate an additional $250,000 from the Electoral Area A Community Works Fund towards the project.
“It’s absolutely critical for us to get this work done to move the project to the next stage,” Cathcart told the Board.
This Community Works Fund contribution will be added to $1.5 million in project funds already set aside for the project through the Whitetooth Legacy Fund, a previous Community Works Fund contribution and the sale of the Golden Visitor Centre. This will cover the cost of the design and engineering work.
The addition of the $250,000 will also result in cost savings because the CSRD will not have to immediately borrow funds and begin paying interest to cover those pre-construction costs.
More information on the Golden and Electoral Area A Indoor Aquatic Centre can be obtained at the Golden On Deck project website, www.goldenondeck.ca