Browaty raises concerns over rising cost of Bison Drive recreation center – Winnipeg Free Press

The city council's finance chairman fears the cost of the $94 million regional resort has skyrocketed so much that Winnipeggers will be disappointed with what was actually built.

Number. Jeff Broughaty expressed his displeasure that the price tag for part of the city's South Winnipeg Recreation Campus has increased by $23 million from its last estimate of $71 million, and that doesn't even include a pool, arena or other more expensive recreation facilities.

“It's only 75,000 to 80,000 square feet of indoor space and it's going to cost $94 million … It seems like a pretty lame facility for that much money,” Brovaty (Kildonan North) said at Monday's finance committee meeting.

As an example, the consultant has two NHL-sized ice rinks in Ottawa, a 25-meter lap pool, a lazy river, a turf sports field, and more. noted the existing Minto Recreation Complex, which cost $54 million when it opened in late 2014. .

Ten years from now, a south Winnipeg recreation center is planned for Bison Drive, the first phase of which will include three gymnasiums, a walking/running track, fitness areas, multi-purpose rooms and a splash pad.

“It seems like a very basic facility for a lot of money,” said Broughati, who added that he doesn't think anything about the project itself is “bad.”

A public library, recreational pool and hockey arena may be added to the Winnipeg Recreation Area in future phases, but only after additional funding and projects are approved.

Brent Piniuta, manager of the city's project delivery office, told the finance committee that the cost of building such a facility is prohibitive, currently running from $750 to $1,000 per square foot.

The holiday campus is part of a wider project that also includes a provincial nursery and a vocational building. Including those amenities, the total price is now expected to reach $126 million, or $37 million above the previously approved estimate of $89 million.

The city estimates the cost increases are due to preliminary assessments that are now being updated, delays in securing higher state funding and “unprecedented” increases in construction costs.

Piniuta told the committee that potential cost savings in the project are being studied through “cost engineering,” which could explore design changes and scale-down options.

“Reduction in scope provides for the reduction of programming areas. Basically, to fill this gulf in the budget, we would have to cut programming in one of the indoor (programmatic) spaces, like the gyms, so go by two-thirds, then remove a few targeted room programs. good,” he said.

Number. Janice Loucks, whose Waverly West division includes the recreation campus, said she expects a staff report in May with options for addressing cost increases. Lux hopes the affordable design choices will help keep costs down, but is opposed to expanding the project.

“Instead of limestone on the walls, it could be polished concrete… We can't do a smaller, scaled-down. We need a sidewalk, we need a splash pad, we need all these things (in the plans),” he said.

The facility is expected to serve a four- to six-kilometer area with 120,000 residents, so every element is needed, Lux said.

He said the project site is also vacant, so the city's costs include adding pipes, parking and other infrastructure to support it.

After the meeting, Brovati noted that the recreation campus would be a “significant” addition to the area.

He also hopes the city can cut costs by changing the design instead of cutting back on the plan.

[email protected]

X: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanna Pursaga
Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics are involved. Joyanna became the Winnipeg Free Press' city hall reporter in early 2020.

Read full bio