A Flin Flon Aqua Centre study has revealed that area residents are more interested in the existing building receiving upgrades and additions than an entirely new building.
Bridgman Colla-borative Architecture presented findings from a feasibility study and opinion surveys at an open house held Wednesday at the R.H. Channing Auditorium. It also polled the assembled group.
Of the six options presented, Option 4, which outlined upgrades to the existing aqua centre and the addition of revenue-generating features, was recommended based on the feasibility study and surveys. It was also the preferred option when the audience of the open house was polled.
Option 4 carries a price tag of $7.7M. If adopted, it would see the aqua centre’s pool basin remain the same, with changes to surrounding areas that would include enlarging the deck and weight room and adding a viewing area, therapeutic pool, classroom and yoga room. The plan also includes larger change rooms and the addition of a family change room.
“It’s the first option where Flin Flon would have the chance to make additional revenue on spaces,” Marcella Poirier of Bridgman Collaborative Architecture said of Option 4 during the presentation.
“Up until now we haven’t increased any revenue,” added Wins Bridgman, pointing to the first three options. “We’ve made it more attainable and a safer place, but [no extra revenue].”
If an option were chosen that did not generate additional revenue, Bridgman asked where the money would come from. “It would mean a greater amount of debt that would be paid by the city, one way or another, [through] user fees or increasing the debt to the city,” he said.
Poirier explained that while the price tag of $7.7M may seem high it is money well spent.
“When we think about cities and how cities have to reinvest in their community health and wellness, it’s a good option no matter what,” she said. “Any improvements to allow more people to visit the pool more often will be money well spent.”
Poirier also explained that while it will take time for the Aqua Centre to pay for itself, the upgrades and improvements are still a good solution.
“I think the idea of return on investment and the idea that something could take 35 years to pay for itself is a difficult number to swallow,” she said.
Area residents and city council are on the same page when it comes to the future of the aqua centre.
Bridgman and Poirier presented its findings to council on Tuesday, at a meeting held the day before the open house. At that meeting, council asked for the removal of an option to have an entrance to the aqua centre from Wallace Ave.
The Wallace Ave option had been considered to create additional parking and to have traffic directed away from the more residential Oak Ave area.
“At the time we were observing there seemed to be inadequate parking on the Oak Ave side,” said Bridgman, “and it made a lot of sense for going off Wallace Ave.”
However, the recent removal of the No. 2 Heating Plant building on the corner of Oak Ave has made room for more space and parking.
As well, a Wallace Ave entrance would carry a price tag of roughly $1.5M. Keeping the entrance at Oak Ave would take about $500,000 off that amount.
Council made the decision Tuesday to abandon the Wallace Ave entrance option. That decision was announced at the open house Wednesday.
Following Wednesday’s information sessions, Poirier and Bridgman will develop a second survey asking residents to choose their favourite option as well as to choose which option they are willing to help pay for and which option they are willing to help fundraise for.
