City set to award site-preparation contract

By STÉPHANE MASSINON
The city is looking to pay almost $2 million to prepare the lands on the Mainland Common for a new recreation facility.

At tonight's meeting, Halifax regional council is slated to award a $1.8-million tender to Dexter Construction to prepare the lands for the new Mainland Common community centre and a fieldhouse for the 2011 Canada Winter Games.

The final design of the facility is not yet finished, and neither is the price tag or financing.

The Build It Right citizens' group has expressed some concerns with the proposed design of the recreation facility.

"The site preparation has got really nothing to do with the actual design of the facility," Rockingham-Wentworth Coun. Debbie Hum said.

"We have to move forward with site preparation or risk losing some of the infrastrucuture money that's been dedicated to that project," Hum said.

The work that Dexter will do includes clearing the land and grading; services and utilities; the realignment of Thomas Raddall Drive and the relocation of 12 parking spaces for the library.

Hum said the project has been a long time coming.