Northern Bruce Peninsula is going to consider some alternatives on how to proceed with the Lion’s Head Arena redevelopment project.
This is the latest after council received an assessment on the arena’s condition last month and it was found the building has about 50 years of life expectancy.
Council met with the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure at the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa to discuss the project and address concerns related to site constraints and construction cost increases since Covid.
A report from CAO Peggy Van Mierlo-West says during that meeting, the possibility of requesting a scope change for the project was explored, and the municipality has the option to request such a change.
The new options coming to the table this week include changing the scope of the project to improve accessibility, construct change rooms and improve energy efficiencies.
In addition to building new change rooms, the project would also include a redesign of the exterior, updating the kitchen, new roofing, redesigning the Tackaberry facade to mitigate stormwater flow, relocating the main entrance, installing a new septic system, and developing a stormwater management system.
“The goal of the renovation is to modernize the facility while addressing existing infrastructure limitations, improving environmental sustainability, and enhancing user experience,” says the report.
This option would cost the municipality $7 million overall.
Council could also choose to build a new arena at a new site. This would include a comprehensive planning, design and construction process of a new arena, library, and community centre, as well as attaining suitable lands to build it on.
This process would begin with an extensive site selection process and would move on to feasibility studies and environmental impact assessments.
“The design will focus on creating multifunctional spaces that cater to diverse community activities, incorporating modern architectural elements that promote sustainability,” says the report.
The total cost for this option is $31 million.
The third option is renovating the arena while constructing a new library and community centre.
The renovation would focus on upgrading essential areas of the arena including the construction of new accessible change rooms, as well as improvements to the kitchen, HVAC system, roof, exterior, and energy-efficient lighting.
Council would also need to approve staff applying for funding to support the construction.
“To fund this initiative, a formal request will be submitted to Infrastructure Ontario to modify the scope of the existing arena project to include the proposed renovations. This request will outline the necessary upgrades and associated costs, emphasizing the benefits to community well-being and infrastructure sustainability,” says the report.
The total budget for the new library and community centre is estimated at about $20 million.
The multi-million dollar project has been in the works for a while, which sought to update the arena with new dressing rooms, a multi-purpose room, and creating a new Bruce County Library Branch.
Council pressed the breaks on the revamp earlier this year after a recommendation was brought to the table to approve spending $17 million.
Council will consider its options at its meeting on Sept. 9 at 1 p.m.
