Mainland Common gets $40.5M athletic centre

JON TATTRIE, METRO HALIFAX

Plans for a $40.5-million Mainland Common Centre were greeted as a “bittersweet victory” in Halifax yesterday.

Susan Kirkland of Build it Right said the community group that fought hard to improve the centre was mostly pleased with the scope of the Clayton Park venue.

"I think it’s a fabulous facility," she said, "it really does look state-of-the-art for the dry-land component ... But I feel that aquatics has come up short. I can’t help thinking it’s a missed opportunity."

The group argues the fast-growing Halifax West area will soon outgrow the 25-metre pool included in the plans.

The facility will be a primary venue for HRM’s 2011 Canada Winter Games. The federal and provincial governments are each kicking in $12 million, while $2 million will come from private funding and the remainder from HRM. A separate $1 million will go toward upgrading Centennial Pool.

"This project will provide an important facility to benefit athletes across the province and Canada," said ACOA minister Peter MacKay.

Premier Rodney MacDonald called it a "crown jewel" in provincial recreation facilities that will allow elite athletes to train here year-round.

Mayor Peter Kelly thanked "the guys with the cheques" for helping bring the project to fruition. "It’s a dream of lifetime for many," he said.

Groundbreaking should start within days and be completed by 2010.

Diana Whalen, the Liberal MLA who has long called for greater transparency in the plans, was pleased. She said the project started in 2002 with a budget of $8 million.

"If the community had settled for what was presented three years ago, we wouldn’t be seeing any of this today," she said. "The wait was worth it."

She said a "phase 2" should look at a new ice rink and a bigger swimming pool.