Third-party cost estimates for construction of the Aquatic Centre and Curling Club have revealed that estimates for the pool are consistent, but not so much for the curling facility.
Council was made privy to the costing during its July 8 meeting, and was shown that between the three separate estimates, the cost of the Curling Club ranged from $12.5 million to nearly $15.6 million.
Cost projections for the Aquatic Centre ranged from $30.1 million to $31.6 million, with total costs for both ranging from $52.8 million to $55.2 million and, with a project of this size, is subject to a 15 per cent flux.
The original estimate totaled $54.3 for both projects.
Hanscomb, Bird Construction and Clark Builders submitted the three cost estimates.
Suzanne Gaida, senior manager of community services for the town, said all three contractors were given the same design to cost.
Both projects have seen an increase in costs. The numbers for the Aquatic Centre have risen due to inflation and the addition of 800 square metres of lease space, which several councillors hope will bring in enough money to offset some of the facility’s operational costs.
The Curling Club has seen a significant increase in cost since its feasibility study. Gaida said that through the town’s research, administration concluded that over the past five years the average cost to construct a facility of this size is between $6.5 and $8.5 million.
The original projected cost of the Curling Club originally was $7.5 million.
Gaida said that after reviewing the three cost estimates it was determined that a design build option for the Aquatic Centre would not be a desirable alternative, as it would be too restrictive and could even prove to be more costly.
The town will also now look to hire a project manager to oversee the construction of the two facilities, a move Gaida said was not uncommon with projects of this size.
Remuneration for the project manager is yet to be determined, but will come from a percentage of the overall cost of the project.
The new facilities will be located to the southeast of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, and Gaida suggested there could be a need to develop up to 1,000 parking spaces to accommodate the new services.
