Cochrane Lions Football provided council with an update on its plans to construct an outdoor turf field, and was granted $500,000 from the town to move forward on the project.
Lions Football pressed councillors to make a decision on whether or not to provide funding to the group, as they are slated to receive turf from McMahon Stadium free of charge, and needed to confirm they would accept the turf.
Jack Vanstone of Morrison Hershfield, the engineering company working with Lions Football on the field, pointed out several geotechnical findings his company had unearthed over the past two weeks, one being that there was no need to completely remove the fill soil for the project, as the soils on the site — next to Bow Valley High School — would not impede the functionality or construction of the turf field.
Vanstone said they would compact the material (soil) to stop water from seeping into the soil and making it susceptible to frost.
Addressing a statement made by the Turf Association during the previous council meeting that called for the need for a shock pad under the turf so that rugby players could use the field, Vanstone said the turf from McMahon Stadium would fall into the recommended G-Max rating range of 120-180, which he claimed was the same range for football, soccer and rugby.
“They are used but not necessary,” Vanstone said of shock pads, which he indicated cost around $500,000.
When asked why the original engineering estimates indicated the need to dig deeper — below the frost line to avoid potential damage to the turf field and Hershfield’s contention that it was not necessary — Vanstone said that it was not a matter of a difference of opinion, but rather a different approach to the same project.
Breaking down the cost of the project, Vanstone said, with a five-year lifespan left on the donated turf, the price tag would be $1.477 million for those five years, and $1.9 million for the first 15 years.
As a comparison, Vanstone said a domed field would end up costing $5.051 million, pointing to the need for a parking lot, utilities and $1.5 million for the dome itself as adding to the cost.
The Turf Association denies these costs are accurate.
Council members discussed and asked questions about the project for some time before making the decision to grant Lions Football with $500,000.
Councillors Tara McFadden and Gaynor Levisky were opposed to the funding.
“We don’t feel there’s any technical reason why this project can’t move forward,” said Vanstone.
Hours of use were projected to be approximately 1,900 hours a year, at a rate of around $100 an hour.
The Turf Association is expected to appear before council Feb. 24 with its alternative plan.
