Aquatic centre fulfills Fields of Dreams agenda
Tim Murphy, Independent Staff
Published on
Feb 25, 2009
Wilmot will be swimming in provincial and federal funding.
Phase two of the Wilmot Recreation Complex, which includes a swimming pool, is being funded by all three levels of government.
“This is certainly an exciting day,” said Wilmot mayor Wayne Roth.
“Its good to see Harold and Leanna here when they have a purse full of
money.”
A new aquatic centre is being built at a cost of $9,048,330.
Each level of government will contribute $3,016,110, which is one-third the total cost of the project.
He said the construction will provide the best services for residents, while providing jobs in rough economic times.
A plan to build an aquatic centre at the recreation complex has always been in the works.
And in continuing with the council’s philosophy of saving, not
borrowing, Roth said when the grand opening of the centre takes place,
it will be completely paid for.
The aquatic centre will have eight lanes and be 25 metres long.
There will be a warm, leisure pool, and a dry land training area.
An active living centre for seniors, along with a youth centre will
be featured. There will be more parking added at the complex, and a
three lane running track will be built.
Tentative plans from the township put the warm water leisure pool at 28 feet by 82 feet.
“It is my hope and my goal that we will be inviting you to the grand
opening of the aquatic centre in the very near future,” said Roth.
Program director Vicky Luttenberger said the concrete plans surrounding the pool are still being developed.
There are no conceptual drawings or plans finished, and public consultation is still three or four months away.
“We’re still in shock,” she said.
The notice the money was coming came on short notice, Luttenberger said.
Staff were told Friday, and the official announcement came Tuesday.
What will happen to the old pool remains to be seen.
A facilities needs study from 2007 suggested the pool could be
repurposed or demolished. Luttenberger said it would not remain open as
a township pool.
The current pool is 35 years old and is six lanes by 25 metres. User
groups have been complaining for years the pool is undersized for
training, there is no observation deck and the change rooms are too
small.
Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Leeanna Pendergast said in a weak economy,
funding from all three levels of government is critical for big
projects.
“We all know in these global economic challenges, this is the only way to go,” said Pendergast.
“That number is so big, I can hardly say it,” Pendergast said,
stumbling as she read the $3,016,110 in funding the province will
provide.
Ontario will benefit from billions of dollars in federal funding to improve infrastructure and community buildings.
Right now, 289 projects have received approval across the province.
“This is just the beginning,” Pendergast said.
Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht said he heard from the mayors
of each township, who expressed concern that their smaller communities
needed to compete with municipalities with as many as 250,000 people.
Albrecht said as a result of the concerns of mayors across the
province, the maximum population to be eligible for this funding was
dropped to 100,000 people.
“It certainly addressed a big gap in the funding model,” he said. “We did listen.”
The politicians were also there to announce funding for projects in Wellesley and Woolwich.
Wellesley mayor Ross Kelterborn opened his remarks with a friendly jab at Wilmot.
“We came here to make sure you can carry the money you’re getting to the bank,” he said.
Wellesley will be investing $996,800, two-thirds of which is provided by upper governments, to upgrade Steffler Road.
Kelterborn said he is happy to see the collaboration of governments.
Explaining how his council has tried to take a team approach to matters
in recent years, Kelterborn said he feels this is just an extension of
the team.
He said it will also help the economy get back on track.