Council approves sports complex; critics unconvinced

JENNIFER TAPLIN, METRO HALIFAX
With dreams of producing future Olympians, council approved the Mainland Common Centre yesterday.

A spectator joked after the vote that now China has a $40 billion Olympics and the HRM has a $40 million sports facility. The federal government announced last week they’re kicking in $12 million along with the province’s $12 million and the HRM’s $13.4 million.

But it didn’t make everybody happy.

Kelly Atkins of the Build it Right community group presented a petition with 7,000 names of people who think the facility doesn’t meet the needs of the community.

“Without a 50-metre pool, national and international competitions can never, never be held in Nova Scotia,” Atkins said.

There are two 50-metre pools in the city (Dalplex and Centennial Pool), but Atkins argued they aren’t up to competitive standards.

Paul Dunphy, director of community development, said spending the extra cash required to bring it up to international standards means less money for components used every day by the community and athletes.

If the 25-metre pool was pulled and replaced with a 50-metre pool, it would cost $5 million more.

In his presentation, Mark Smith of Sport Nova Scotia said the time is coming when the HRM will have to look at building a 50-metre pool.

Connaught-Quinpool Coun. Sheila Fougere added an amendment that staff look at developing a 50-metre pool within 20 years.

But there’s a much tighter deadline for the Mainland Common Centre since it needs to be up and running for the 2011 Canada Winter games. Construction on the recreation centre will begin in two months, and it is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010.

Jean-Paul Deveau, chair of the 2011 Canada Winter Games Host Society, was “very pleased” with the facility. Three events will be hosted there: badminton, synchronized swimming and artistic gymnastics.