Monday, November 23, 2009

Bad Soil for New Rec Centre

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Owen Sound
by Jonathon Jackson    

There’s a significant glitch as Owen Sound prepares to start building its new regional recreation complex at Victoria Park.

Soil testing at the site has revealed the preferred location of the 37-million dollar facility will not be able to withstand the mass of the building as is.

And while Councillor and Rec Centre Committee Chair Jim McManaman says the city is committed to Victoria Park as the location -- there's no guarantee that any other location at the park will work any better.

The facility is planned for the  south eastern corner of the park -- along 10th Street and 8th Avenue West.

McManaman talked about the issue after a sod-turning ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

He says soil testing was already underway when it was brought to the committee's attention that the soil's load-bearing capacity isn't suitable.

McManaman says the engineering work could add another 1 million dollars to the price tag.

It also means the start of construction has to wait for another two to three weeks.

The steering committee has already been working to reduce costs on the project.

It was recently announced there was a gap of about 1.8 million dollars between the cost and the available funding.

That was before the elimination of a proposed seniors centre in the building, a move that was expected to save several hundred thousand dollars.

McManaman says more money may be available noting that Georgian Bluffs is almost ready to make a financial commitment of almost one million dollars.

Meaford is also being invited to participate, and overtures may be made to other local municipalities.