The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) reversed its motion for any recreation facility donations to go toward reducing the overall cost to the taxpayer and would instead now go to cost overruns to make sure the facilities are designed as promised in the referendum.
"Personally I feel we should be trying to honour what we presented to the public," Elphinstone director Celia Fisher said when she moved to rescind the April motion. "I want our donations to go to complete what we set out to do."
The gallery of about 30 people, including Gibsons Area Community Centre Society (GACCS) members, applauded the decision at the SCRD special board meeting Nov. 10.
Gerry Tretick, chair of GACCS, which has been fundraising for the Gibsons ice-based community centre, said fundraising to reduce taxpayer costs rather than to enhance the facility was difficult.
"If you want what you expect, let's go out and find the money to make sure it happens," Tretick said after the meeting.
Projected budgets for both the Gibsons arena and Sechelt aquatic centre are over the combined $19.3 million budget. The original $10.5 million for the pool has jumped to at least $13.7 million, according to TASK project manager John Hebert.
"Now we're coming to you with a number that's totally unacceptable," Hebert told the board. He suggested reducing the project budgets through re-design, such as going from an Olympic-size to NHL-size arena. TASK is weighing the options whether to build with steel, concrete or wood.
The board is waiting for word from the federal and provincial governments on any available grants.
At the same meeting, the board also passed a motion to form two separate advisory committees for each facility, with a joint sub-committee. The committee would advise the board on issues with the facilities, including the designs and the public input process.
The board's next steps are to discuss issues like development cost charges and servicing requirements with the two municipalities, according to SCRD administrator Doug Holmes. As well, the SCRD is continuing to look into the status of grant programs. A design charette will be started to try to refine the designs more efficiently to save money, Holmes added. And the SCRD is currently advertising for the advisory committees.
