ATHABASCA – The Athabasca Regional Multiplex has finalized its asset management plan, which staff is hoping will help address capital concerns and maintenance needs as the building systems start to reach ‘end-of-life’ status.
Multiplex general manager Rhonda Alix and facility manager Tim Wolfenberg gave Athabasca County councillors the rundown on the new plan during their June 17 committee of the whole meeting, which includes the re-balanced budget for the 2025 year as well as a plan for future fiscal needs.
“This is not only great for our councils, but it’s great for our public to be able to see. It’s often, ‘Well, where is all the money going,’ and so to be able to see this and have this in reports to share with the public is just huge,” said Reeve Tracy Holland.
“It’s quite the Cadillac building that we’ve got going on there, and it’s well appreciated and well utilized in our community. It is a huge budget that you’re looking at, but planning ahead is key.”
Wolfenberg explained the asset management plan through a cycle of life analogy, comparing the Multiplex to a teenager. The facility, which was built in 2008, is entering the stage of its life where capital assets need to be renewed and maintained, lest they break and need to be fully replaced.
“As your building ages, that’s when you need to start thinking about re-investments and possible replacements. Your cost increases start to balloon up again,” said Wolfenberg.
“As you work your way out of the adolescence stage and into the adult stage, your capital renewal costs are in the forefront. You might look at adapting the building. Trends within the community or the sporting world may change.”
Wolfenberg cited cost efficiency, safety and compliance, user experience, data-driven decision making, and energy and risk management as the core pillars of the Multiplex’s plan.
The Athabasca Regional Multiplex Society (ARMS) is hoping the new asset management plan will help its two municipal owners, Athabasca County and the town of Athabasca, plan future budgets to address the facility's needs. In 2025, the town was unable to meet the requested $225,000 capital request, instead providing an initial sum of $90,000 that was later increased to $105,000.
Athabasca County mirrored its municipal partner, leaving the facility with less than half of its expected capital budget.
More than $5 million of capital replacements and upgrades are included in the asset management plan, which covers 2025 to 2049. In a perfect world $5.5 million will be needed in the next ten years to address all the items on the list, although Alix said that was probably a wish list.
“Because of the difference in funding going forward — last year was just under $100,000, this year was just over $100,000 — so when you’re looking at a jump to nearly half a million, that’s quite a difference,” said Alix.
“That’s why we made the asset management plan, so we can make some informed decisions there and going forwards.”
In total, the Multiplex will spend roughly $377,000 on capital projects in 2025, with an extra $160,000 coming out of the capital reserve. The most expensive project will be the curling rink dehumidification unit, which will cost $225,000.
Additional items were postponed to the 2026 budget, which has grown to an expected $840,000, although that has to be presented to the Multiplex board in September before it becomes an official budget.
