Editor:
A recent Coast Reporter article ("Coast stimulus projects to beat 2011 deadline") noted that the SCRD received just under $3-million in funding for infrastructure projects through the federal government's economic stimulus grants. Among the projects to be completed by March 31, 2011 are improvements to the Sechelt and Pender Harbour aquatic facilities.
Wait a minute. How come a pool less than five years old needs improvements, and why are these upgrades prioritized ahead of those for the older pool facility in Gibsons? An SCRD director told me the Gibsons repairs and renovations were not included in the grant application because "projects had to be shelf ready."
Wait a minute. When the Sechelt Aquatic Centre/Gibsons Community Centre referendum went forward, the Gibsons Aquatic Centre design process and $700,000 alternative approval proposal (AAP) referendum to upgrade the pool fell by the wayside. But the plans completed by Mobius Architects are still there, on the shelf, ready since 2003-04 and requiring only cost updating to be ready for inclusion in the grant application. The Gibsons project was shelf-ready.
But the Sechelt pool's water-treatment system was rusting out, and replacing this item was necessary in order to keep the pool open. This trumped the Gibsons pool's need for a new roof, staff room, upgraded washrooms and change rooms, and additional rooms for lessons and meetings.
Wait a minute. Pre-construction, the Gibsons Area Community Centre Society (GACCS) recommended against the salinization of the Sechelt pool, pointing out to the SCRD salt water's tendency to rust materials with which it comes in contact. The SCRD bypassed this recommendation - along with bypassing the GACCS recommendations for "green" construction of the facilities, and using geothermal technology to recover heating and cooling energy for resale to nearby neighbourhoods. As the SCRD now has to replace the works at the pool and is installing geothermal post-construction at the community centre (at increased costs) the cost of ignoring community input has been considerable.
I can only hope the SCRD will now take the plans for the Gibsons pool off the shelf, although they missed the opportunity to complete the work using federal grant monies.
Celia Fisher
Gibsons
