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Curling rink now to be included with new leisure centre

Plans for a new leisure centre to replace Sylvan Lake’s old arena will now include a curling rink.

Plans for a new leisure centre to replace Sylvan Lake’s old arena will now include a curling rink.

Councillors, at their meeting Monday, approved a change in the scope of the project to include a curling rink.

Councillor Dale Plante told members of Sylvan Lake Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday that plans to include a five sheet rink were greeted positively during a meeting held between the town and curlers.

Ron Lebsack, the town’s director of community services, said he felt following that meeting they were “close enough to say we’re going to combine” the curling rink with the leisure centre. He expects to have a final agreement with the club within the next month.

In the meantime, a request for proposals for architectural services for the project should go out this week so a contract can be awarded by the end of March. Then it’s a six-eight month process for final construction drawings and cost estimates.

Lebsack’s timeline indicated conceptual design completion by May 9, detailed design and cost presented to council Nov. 10 and approval to proceed to tendering Nov. 24.

Asked by Councillor Matt Prete about the length of time to build the facility, Lebsack said the total project would likely take 18-24 months. “We’re looking at a phased process, putting emphasis on the arena and curling rink and getting them up and running as quickly as possible.”

“We need to make it clear this process has to incorporate plans to have ice for the fall of 2015,” Prete continued.

At that point Councillor Jas Payne, serving as chairman of the meeting in the absence of Mayor Sean McIntyre, said “the process is going to take time. If you want to do it right you have to follow the process … I don’t think there’s going to be any feet dragging on this project.”

Lebsack cautioned that “any timeline we look at is realistic, but it comes with a cost. What council will have to look at is if it’s realistic, is it feasible.”

Councillors unanimously approved a project work plan for the detailed design of the leisure centre.

Among items to be dealt with under the project are confirmation of the cost and scope of work for rerouting underground utilities, confirming parking requirements for the facility and the construction timeline including phasing.