The City of Victoria is holding a series of information sessions on the proposed Crystal Pool replacement ahead of a referendum on the project next year.
The 13 sessions start this month and wrap up in January. The referendum is expected in February.
The next information session is Saturday at the Moss Street Market from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Victoria residents will vote in the referendum on whether the city should borrow $168.9 million to build a new Crystal Pool, as well as on which of two sites in Central Park they would prefer.
The Central Park North option, which would be built on the existing pool site, could cost an estimated $209.2 million and take five to six years to build.
Borrowing for that option would be reduced to $162.9 million by using $30 million from the city’s debt reduction reserve and $17 million from its parking reserve fund.
The price tag for the Central Park South option, to be built on the playground and sport courts beside the existing pool, is $215.9 million, but borrowing would be reduced to $168.9 million by using the reserve funds.
The budget for the pool replacement has nearly tripled since 2017 due to the increased cost of building materials, labour, architectural and engineering fees, as well as building-code and energy-regulation changes.
The facility would include a 50-metre pool, a leisure pool with a lazy river and play features, two hot pools plus a steam room and sauna.
The facility would also have a large fitness area, a half-size gymnasium and multi-purpose rooms for dance, wellness and art activities, a seniors room, space for child minding, family change rooms, and a community gathering space.
More detail and information is available at crystalpool.ca.
