Plans floated for spiffy new swimming pool

JOHN THOMPSON

Iqaluit city councillors heard plans to build a new public swimming pool in the next five years, during a presentation on Dec. 6.

The city’s existing pool is 35 years old, built when Iqaluit’s population was only 900.

“It’s basically reached the end of its useful lifespan,” said Terry Gray, regional manager for FSC, the firm hired to do a feasibility study on a new pool.

“Its programs are overflowing. It has many mechanical failures that cause frequent closures and are expensive to maintain. And it’s a lease deal, where right now none of the money spent on it is going back to the community.”

The proposed design for a new aquatics centre includes a five-lane pool, a leisure pool with depths from 1.3 to 3.5 metres, a whirlpool and a waterslide. The facility would also include a “party room” to be rented to groups.

The pricetag? $10.4 million for capital costs, plus another $1.7 million for furniture, specialty reviews and consulting costs. Iqalummiut would likely vote to approve or reject the project during a referendum.

If approved, Gray said a new pool could be in place by January 2010. Construction would take two summers. But before that, the city would need to hire architects and engineers to draft detailed plans and put requests for proposals out for bid. If the city made the project a priority, Gray said it could be done in early 2009.

But before a new pool is built, Iqaluit residents will likely be left without anywhere to swim for several years.

The current pool lease expires at the end of March 2006, with a possible extension until March the following year. The city should know whether the agreement will be extended within the next month.

“2010 really is a good option. Council needs to fast-track this,” Coun. Nancy Gillis said.

Glenn Williams countered that the project’s price tag could be a tough sell to residents, if other funding isn’t found.

“If you take that out to the ratepayers on a referendum, that’s not going to go.

“I wouldn’t vote for that.”

The existing pool draws about 21,000 swims annually. Proponents of a new pool believe they can boost that number to between 40,000 to 100,000, given the right facilities. That’s an increase from about 3.75 swims per capita annually, up to between 6 and 8.

The preferred location would be adjacent to Joamie school, with the building entrance facing the far end of the school’s parking lot. The downward slope of the property would actually lend itself to the building design, said Gray, and save workers some excavation work. The consultants chose the Joamie site from seven potential locations. The land is held in reserve by the city.

It’s estimated the new pool could draw annual revenues of $95,000. It would cost $900,000 to operate, leaving an operational deficit of over $800,000. CAO Ian Fremantle said as the cost of heat and electricity rises, and new parts begin to wear, operating costs would also rise.

The city pays about $400,000 to lease and operate the current Astro Hill pool, which may not be available after next year.

Council will decide whether to agree to the plan in principle and begin researching the timeline, site selection and funding options at their next meeting on Dec. 20.