Pool 'could be built for $10m or less '

Owner of Lambert’s Concrete, Lambert Veenstra, has a long track record in construction. Here he argues why he believes the Town has gone about the pool project the wrong way, leading to escalating costs. The latest projected cost of a new pool is just over $15 million, but Veenstra is convinced a new aquatic centre could be built for $10 million or less.

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Lambert Veenstra stabs a finger at a picture of ten men watching a guy called Fred dig a hole.

The ten observers are in various postures of inaction – sitting down, hands on hips, folded or in pockets, chatting, and leaning idly on a spade. In contrast, Fred is knee-deep in earth, surrounded by mounds of freshly dug soil.

“In my opinion this is why the pool is costing so much money,” said Veenstra. “There is way too much at the top end.”

In effect, Veenstra is reciting the old adage: too many chiefs, not enough Indians. Or as the picture suggests, too many managers for such areas as human resources, marketing, logistic, communication, security, IT, PR, and product development. The image (see Page 7A) also shows an internal supervisor and project manager.

“There are only two people needed for the project: that’s Fred and the project manager,” said Veenstra, who was sent the picture by a friend.

“At the moment there is so much money being spent at the top end, it has almost got to the point where we can’t afford the project, because we have to get rid of Fred.”

Relating the picture more directly to Barrhead’s aquatic centre project, Veenstra believes it was an expensive mistake to hire Edmonton-based architects Barr Ryder to draw conceptual designs.

Instead, the Town should deal with a building company with its own architects and engineers, something happening in Neerlandia, he said. This way architectural drawings can be changed multiple times for negligible costs.

“When you’ve got a builder with his own architect and engineers, he’s going to build a lot cheaper, he knows he’s not going to be held up every time he turns around,” said Veenstra.

Veenstra is unimpressed with the design presented by Barr Ryder. Again he calls for simplicity.

“That pool design is a whole bunch of corners,” he said. “What we want is a rectangular building – four corners – and one level roof.

“That is way cheaper than having a building with eight corners and three different levels on the roof. That all costs money.”

He added: “It’s like a house, everyone needs a roof over their head, but they don’t need a 5,000 ft. roof over their head.”

Veenstra went on to question the need for a big kiddies pool.

“I talked to my daughter last night and she said she would rather see a smaller one so she can keep an eye on her kids.”

Veenstra is also convinced a new pool should be built at the site of the old Kinsmen Aquatic Centre, not across the highway near Shepherd’s Care.

“The building needs to go where there is already an existing parking lot,” he said. “Why would you put it somewhere on the other side of town where you have to start from scratch, and build all the infrastructure when you already have it at the old site?”

With all the suggested cost-cutting measures in place, Veenstra reckons the current $15.3 million price tag could come down significantly.

“I think it can be done a lot cheaper,” he said. “I think we can do it for $10 million or less, just by simplifying things and getting rid of the top end.”

To many in Barrhead, Veenstra’s name is synonymous with concrete and construction. So when he says he thinks a new pool could be built for $10 million or less you would expect his words to carry particular weight.

Yet is anyone listening? Veenstra believes the County of Barrhead is listening, as demonstrated by its decision to pay a maximum of $5 million towards a new pool – $2 million shy of the Town’s commitment.

“I think it shows good financial responsibility on the County’s part,” he said.

“If the County had said we will pay 50 per cent of the costs, there is no way I would vote in favour of a pool in the County plebiscite.

“Don’t get me wrong. I am in favour of a pool, but it has to be affordable.”

Veenstra believes the County’s position has forced the Town to listen to voices of reason.

“I think the Town might be listening now because the County put a cap on $5 million,” he said. Once a new pool is built, added Veenstra, user fees should be realistic.

“If the taxpayers are going to pay for this pool, then the maintenance needs to be paid by users,” he said.

“People pay $80 to go golfing and $4 to go swimming. There’s something wrong with that picture. People also pay a fortune for their kids to play hockey, yet pay virtually nothing for swimming.”

Veenstra said if users were unwilling to pay pool fees it sent a message that the facility was not needed.

“It tells me the pool is really not that important,” he added.

*Check Leader website and Facebook page for Monday’s plebiscite results.