Estimated pool price soars

The pool project will cost about $10 million more than initial estimates, according to figures released last week.

The projected costs of the proposed aquatic centre range from $21m to $24m.

This contrasts with original ballpark figures of $12m to $15m.

Edmonton-based architects Barr Ryder disclosed the estimates to a meeting last Tuesday of the Barrhead Agrena Society and the Recreation Department.

In a 30-minute presentation, partner/architect Steven Bushnell put forward four pool concepts which varied in size and type of facilities.

He said concepts were based on the results of a survey on what people wanted in their new pool.

A hot tub topped the wish-list, followed in order by a competition pool, leisure pool, diving board, family change room, waterslide, private showers, lazy river and spray park.

The remaining five components were sauna, climbing wall, flow rider, steam room and deep tank, in that order.

“We looked at options that would reflect variations on these,” he said.

The costs presented were:

Option 1: $18,246,000 (construction budget), $21,170,600 (total project budget); option 2: $19,481,500 (construction budget), $22,629,650 (total project budget); option 3: $19,694,000 (construction budget), $22,863,400 (total project budget); option 4: $21,041,500 (construction budget), $24,445,450 (total project budget).

Bushnell said the construction budget included, among other things, landscaping, a parking lot and construction of building. The total project budget took into account furniture, equipment and unforeseen expenses.

“Prices for these facilities are going up,” he said.

Projected costs were also given for some of the pool features: six-lane competition pool, $1,250,000; leisure pool, $3,050,000; whirlpool, $500,000; waterslide, $650,000; lazy river, $650,000.

“We are proposing a fully tiled pool and deck area, steel frame building, exterior insulated,” Bushnell said. “This is a high quality envelope building.”

Among those present at the meeting were Town councillors Don Smith, Dave McKenzie and Madelaine Wessel. Coun. Bill Lane represented the County council. Also there were Chief Administrative Officer Martin Taylor, the Town’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Lyle Hannan, County Manager Mark Oberg and Agrena Society president, Shannon Carlson, and director Fred Thistle.

Councillors expressed concern at the high costs projected.

Coun. Lane said he was frustrated by numbers which appeared to have steadily increased.

Coun. Smith said this demonstrated the danger of issuing guesstimates which become lodged in the public mind.

“There were numbers that were being bandied around that should never have been bandied around,” said Smith.

Carlson expressed surprise at the increase in construction costs over the last year, while Oberg said it would be helpful to know about operational costs of the different components.

“It would be nice to build something nice for under $15 million,” said Coun. Madelaine Wessel.

She said taxpayers needed to be given an idea about how much more it will cost each household for the project.

“As a taxpayer I would like to know,” she said.

Bushnell said refinements could be made to reduce costs.

Last week’s meeting comes six months after Barrhead Town Council announced the site of the new pool.

Mayor Brian Schulz said council had bought a five-acre parcel of land at the corner of 49 Street and 58 Avenue, across from the Petro-Canada gas station.

The municipality bought the raw land from the Schneider family for $175,000. It is part of a 14-acre plot, within sight of the Shepherd’s Care facility.

On March 1, architect’s drawings were unveiled at the Agrena Society’s Open House at the Multi-Purpose Room.

Bushnell said his next step was to meet with recreation administrators and begin refining the project.

The public will have a chance to look at the pool proposals at open houses in September, then vote on the project in a plebiscite in October.

Afterwards, Coun. Wessel expressed confidence that the pool price could be lowered by adjusting the layout.

Schulz said he was not that surprised by the projected pool costs.

He said people should bear in mind that the plan is not to build a replica of the existing pool.

It is to create a much better aquatic centre, with a six-lane competition pool, leisure pool and special components.

“We are talking about two and a half pools,” he said.

Schulz said the Town and County would have to discuss further the pool options in the context of developing Barrhead and ensuring the town’s future prosperity.