Supporters of a new aquatic centre in Red Deer rallied outside City Hall on Monday while Capital Budget deliberations were taking place. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Sheldon Spackman and Troy Gillard

capital budget

BUDGET: City to explore aquatic centre location, funding options in 2020

Nov 18, 2019 | 5:27 PM

The City of Red Deer is wading back into planning for a new aquatic centre.

During the first day of 2020 Capital Budget deliberations on Monday, city council passed a resolution to explore cost, location and funding options for the long-talked about amenity.

This after a decision to remove funding for an aquatic centre altogether from the City’s 10-year capital plan came under fire from proponents of the project.

In full, the resolution approved on Monday directs city administration to:

– Continue the study on the aquatics centre focused on location and scope only,

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– Explore a corporate financing plan to finance the City’s portion of the capital costs for a future aquatic centre,

– Explore a corporate financing plan to finance the City’s portion of the operating costs for a future aquatic centre,

– Continue to identify potential federal and provincial infrastructure grants for future aquatics centre, and,

– Work with the province to ensure the City’s continued access to the Michener pool during this process.

A report is to be presented to council in June ahead of 2021 budget process.

“I do think it is very important that we adopt this resolution, because this resolution stipulates that we are still committed to the vision of it,” said Mayor Tara Veer.” But we have to, when in this time of very limited means, be honest and pragmatic, and not artificial, in determining where we can realistically position (this) in a future iteration of capital plans.”

Supporters of the aquatic centre project who gathered for a rally outside of City Hall this afternoon were pleased with the news.

“It certainly feels better than a few days ago when it seemed like we weren’t on the horizon at all,” said Brian Gallaway, chair of Central Alberta Aquatic Centre committee. “We certainly would have preferred that it be in the budget, but are certainly happy that they are taking steps to maybe get us back in for next year.”

Gallaway reiterated that Red Deer is the only community of its size without a 50-metre pool.

“Our competition pool was built in the 70s. It doesn’t meet standards, it doesn’t have the depth or the length, doesn’t have spectator seating. We also are short on lanes. We have four pools, but they don’t have much actual water space in them for the activities we’d like to do.”

Paralympian swimmer Tammy Cunnington says Red Deer loses out on more than just hosting events by not having adequate facilities.

“We lose our best swimmers,” she explained. “The young kids coming up, when they are 14, 15 16, if they are looking at the Olympics they need to move to be able to pursue that dream. If we can have those facilities here we can retain those high-level athletes.”

Veer stressed that optimism over the future of a new pool in Red Deer should remain cautious for the time being.

“Because of the prolonged recession and not only the continued economic reality, but the new economic reality that municipalities in Alberta are faced with, it would be irresponsible and would not be respectful to the pool community, or to the community at large, to artificially put the single highest cost piece of infrastructure into the capital plan.”