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We’re still waiting for action on rec centre
June 10th, 2008
By MARILLA STEPHENSON
DOWN AT CONSULTATION Central — also known as Halifax city hall — there is such a thing as too much public consultation.
The flow of available information has dried up completely in relation to the controversial new recreation centre planned for Mainland North. For a project that has generated way too many headlines over the past three years — and it’s not even fully off the ground yet — I guess this shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
While the local citizens’ action group, known as Build-It-Right, continues to press for details, and opposition politicians demand information from governments about the centre, those in the know remain mum about what is planned for the new $40.7-million project on the Mainland Common.
The one thing that might be assumed at this point is that at that price, the three levels of government are finally going to address the pathetic lack of recreation facilities in what is one of the fastest growing regions of Nova Scotia.
And I’d bet money that the project will be subject to some sort of phased funding and construction restrictions, even though it is planned to be in place for the 2011 Canada Winter Games being hosted in Halifax.
The cost sharing for the current project — whatever it includes — is pegged at $13.34 million each for the federal and provincial governments, plus $12 million from Halifax. It is expected community fundraising will also be required, as has been the case for other similar centres.
This is looking like an improvement over previous proposals for the centre. Indeed, if the city had not won the Canada Games, it is likely that Mainland North would have been stuck with an undersized facility, as was first proposed by city hall three years ago.
Controversy has swirled over what size of pool should be included in the new centre, as a replacement to the 25-metre Northcliffe pool that survived well beyond its best-before date.
Given the huge population growth that has occurred in Mainland North, and the fact that the new pool is expected to draw residents from Timberlea, Tantallon and south Bedford, as well as serving the immediate Clayton Park, Fairview and Rockingham areas, it is fair to ask whether a 25-metre replacement pool is adequate for the needs of the future.
Growth in the region is far from over.
If the needs of the area have at the very least doubled, would it make sense to build two 25-metre pools? Probably not. One 50-metre pool, then, does not seem to be an unreasonable request.
The Build-It-Right folks have been pressing for nearly three years on exactly that issue, as a plan for an undersized pool first emerged that drew significant push-back from the neighbourhood.
Then, unfortunately, a city-commissioned study ended up pitting one neighbourhood against another. The report pointed out that with Dalhousie University and Centennial Pool already providing the region with two 50-metre pools, the city was as well served as Toronto in terms of facilities that size.
The report suggested that the city should choose between keeping Centennial open, or building a 50-metre pool on the Mainland Common.
I have to wonder, though, how many 25-metre pools might be found in Toronto, and whether a neighbourhood the size of Mainland North would be expected to be served by one 25-metre pool.
The Toronto comparison might be fair in terms of 50-metre pools overall, but how do our recreation facilities compare in general to that Canadian city or many others?
There were plans to build new recreation facilities on the Mainland Common as part of the former city’s decision to buy the lands 20 years ago. Then amalgamation came to town and building things in Halifax went out of style.
I live in Mainland North, so I hereby declare a conflict over wishing for a right-sized facility for my family and my neighbourhood. But there is no denying that there is nothing that even comes close to Dartmouth Sportsplex, Scotia Stadium or Cole Harbour Place to serve the booming Mainland North region.
It was reported by The Chronicle Herald last week that no details on the recreation centre would be revealed until federal funding for the project — apparently in the works — is secured and formally announced.
Until then, we sit and await word on the pool, field house and other facilities that are needed not only in the Clayton Park area, but to provide broader recreation services for the region as a whole. The consultation stage is definitely over.
There is a lot of catching up to do in terms of rec facilities in Nova Scotia and announcements have been forthcoming in towns across the province throughout the spring.
Hopefully the powers that be will see fit to deliver a modern, versatile, right-sized centre in Mainland North. This time, it’s our turn.
Marilla Stephenson’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
What is Peter Mac Kay's Telling Us!
Other projects have been announced in NS, that will have Federal Funding. Why, from my observation, is it only in HRM, that we have to wait for the Feds, prior to an announcement. Was this not the same BS Shell Game, that we were told during the Commonwealth Games!! Blaming the Feds, is a dangerous game, unless of course they don't care in Ottawa!
Surly, Mr MacKay, Federal Minister for Atlantic Canada,with a new Fedral Accountablity Act, should be more than forthcoming with a funding announcement. Are the rules differnt for citizens of HRM. HRM in my view, is lining up the contracts, and finalizing the design prior to a formal announcement. Is the Federal Government a silient parterner, in this flawed process. It would appear so!