Grants could buoy pool upgrade proposal

JOHN MOORHOUSE Penticton Herald Thursday, March 5, 2009
Senior government funding could be the key to whether proposed improvements to Penticton‘s community centre pool get off the starting blocks. John Kirbyson, the city‘s director of parks, recreation and culture, said the city plans to apply for government grants for a pool upgrade which is long overdue. ’She‘s a grand old pool, built in 1981. She has served the community for a long time very well, but it‘s time for an upgrade,‘ he said. Kirbyson said the pool is not very suitable for swimming competitions and events and does not offer a variety of family leisure opportunities. It also requires enhancements to its plumbing and mechanical systems, and needs to be more energy efficient. The city has been working on a series of proposals with a design team, which is looking at various options, Kirbyson said. However, no cost figures or other details have yet been made public. A full report is expected to be presented to council on Monday. ’We‘re still working on our concept designs, so I don‘t have capital costs yet,‘ he said. ’But I will have that when we present our report next week.‘ A major upgrade to the community centre pool has been in the works since 2006 when plans were unveiled for three options -ranging from an eight-lane 50-metre pool to a smaller leisure pool at the end east of the existing six-lane 25-metre pool. Most leisure pools now include a gradual "zero depth" entry area. Estimated project costs at that time ranged from $8 million to $17 million.

Meanwhile, the city is moving ahead with an application for $2 million in federal-provincial infrastructure grants to increase the size of several watermains throughout the city to provide better fire protection. The city‘s $1-million share would be paid through water utility reserve funds. Mitch Moroziuk, the city‘s director of development and engineering services, said the areas to receive the watermain upgrades have been prioritized in the city‘s 10-year watermain replacement program. ’These are mainly items that are too small - 40 millimetre watermains where we have a concern with public safety in terms of fire protection abilities,‘ he said. Cast iron and leaded-joint watermains will also be replaced. Moroziuk noted the project is totally separate from the $7.8-million upgrade to the city‘s water treatment plant on Penticton Creek which is now underway. Applications must be submitted by March 16 or April 24. City officials plan to go to Victoria next week to further discuss the grant applications.