New Aquatic Centre Considered at Public Meeting
 

Phase 2 round of talks about a new swimming pool facility began Monday night at Southampton Town Hall.

The Town is holding a series of 'town hall' type meetings to get as much feedback as possible from residents. What would be a large-ticket item seems to be garnering very limited discussion. "We are looking for input," says Mike Myatt, Director of Community Services. "This is a fact-finding endeavour. We want people to respond and give us as much guidance as possible. Whether they are in favour or not, we want to hear from them."

Unfortunately, on Monday, only 20 people attended and responded.

According to consultant, Bernie Range, there are two demographic trends. "We see slow and steady growth over the next 20 years and also an aging population. In 2006, only 14% of the population was age 14 or under and the median age was 47.7 years."

He went on to say that developing a vision for an indoor aquatic facility includes a regional focus on a multi purpose facility. Many communities, according to Range, have abandoned the stand-alone swimming pool concept in favour of community centres where a pool is central.

Range pointed out that there are several key services that people want to see in an aquatic full-service facility - full accessibility, reception or admittance, segregated and family change rooms, adequate staff services, pools that include swim lanes in support of competition training, sufficient deck space, public viewing area and multi-use rooms for meetings, etc.

Shanna Reid, Pool Supervisor and Kristan Shreider, Parks and Facilities Supervisor have been touring various facilities through Grey and Bruce Counties and, while many have positive attributes, their staffs also have advised of negative features that could be avoided in a new facility.

Each of the facilities, Bracebridge, Goderich, the Township of Center Wellington in Fergus, Wingham in North Huron and Hanover, have built new pool/sports facilities. Wingham was the least expensive facility at $7,700,000 for a replacement type of facility, Bracebridge at $16 million, Goderich at $18 million and Fergus at $12,358,788. Hanover was built for only $5 million but that was more that 12 years ago.

There are many features that can be incorporated into a new pool build, but that first concern is where to locate it, should one be built and what the cost would be.

Of those polled, 53% want to see it as part of The Plex, 14% on a property close to The Plex, 8% on a separate piece of land, 6% on Fenton Land (town owned) and 19% were unsure.

Mike Myatt, Director of Community Services, said, "This is only one part of Phase 2 public meetings with the next being on December 9th at noon in Rotary Hall at The Plex. From here, we go to Phase 3 where we are hoping to come up with a business plan for the kinds of dollars that we may need for an aquatic centre. We hope to have some numbers at that point and also some conceptual drawings. Of course, we will also be continuing with public consultations."

Phase 4, according to Myatt, will see break-out drawings of a facility complete with technical components for a building. "It will be the decision making stage," he said, "where we move forward, decide on what the facility will look like and what will the price tag be. Phase 5 is the actual build."

The concern over a new pool facility was raised when it was learned that Bluewater School Board had no plans to continue a pool facility if, or when, it built or renovated Saugeen District Secondary School, which houses the only swimming pool in the area.

It was learned on Monday however, that the School Board has, in fact, moved any decision-making review from 2009 to 2012/2013.

(next column)

13/01/2009 04:20 PM

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(continued)

Consultant Bernie Range goes over various points for discussion

(L) Mary Jane Salter, Lorne Shantz and Brian Cleaver discuss possible locations

(L) Town's Jane Jagelewski, Councillor Luke Charbonneau and consultant Bernie Range talk things over

Mike Myatt explains the various stages of a pool build as Jane Jagelewski listens

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