The 1970s-era Strathcona Gardens Recreation Centre in Campbell River and Rod Brind’Amour Arena will be expanded, after borrowing of up to $64.6 million for the project was approved.
Sayward Mayor Mark Baker, chair of the Strathcona Regional District, which owns the properties, said Thursday the upgrade will be “state of the art.”
“It is going to be absolutely gorgeous, something that this area and region has never seen before.”
The first phase of the project will include a new aquatic centre with an eight-lane, 25-metre pool, accessible therapy pool, hot pool, leisure pool with a lazy river, climbing wall and waterslide.
It will also include a new fitness and wellness centre with sauna and steam rooms.
Change rooms will be renovated, as will administrative areas.
Designs have been completed, and the regional district is now seeking the needed permits from the City of Campbell River. Construction is expected to be put out to tender after the capital borrowing bylaw has been completed in early December.
Plans call for construction to start in the late spring and wrap up two years later, with an estimated price tag of $53 million, although the regional district has cautioned that could change.
The arena work would take place in the second phase of the project. The preliminary cost estimate is $20 million, but design work is still underway, the regional district said.
Plans include expanding spectator seating and upgrading team rooms, so the facility has the potential to attract a Junior A hockey team to the region and host a more diverse range of events, the regional district said.
Detailed arena design drawings are expected to be ready in the spring.
Money for the project will also be raised through user fees, reserve funds and grant applications.
“I am delighted to see this project is proceeding and grateful that electors recognized the importance of a new recreation facility for our community,” said Campbell River Coun. Susan Sinnott, a regional district director and chair of the Strathcona Gardens commission.
The alternate approval process for borrowing the money ran from Aug. 23 to Oct. 4. Out of 32,880 eligible voters, 106 submitted forms in opposition, below the required 10 per cent needed for the proposal to fail.
Based on an estimate of loan costs, the average household would pay another $8 per month, although final loan details still have to be arranged.
The arena was built in 1972 and the main pool in 1979.
Each year, about 150,000 users visit the facilities, which are deemed to be at capacity.
Assessments of the aging facilities found the pool was at risk of failing at any time, the regional district said, adding: “Without a plan in place to build a new pool, the aquatic centre could be shut down.”
The arena portion of the project was added to the borrowing plan in January of this year.
