A proposed outdoor rink outside of the South Cariboo Rec Centre is moving forward in the design process.
During the May 2 Cariboo Regional District board meeting, directors reviewed a schematic design from Blue Green Architecture along with a list of associated costs. Included in the agenda item were several more detailed design drawings by Quesnel-based Vision West Design for consideration
"The structure is a roof only with some drop cladding with loads designed to suit the BCBC codes for 100 Mile House, the building columns are set to take the RWL to grade. There is also a seating area and washroom included, as are the perimeter boards for an operating facility," wrote Richard Palmer of Vision West Design.
Additionally, Vision West Design proposes the work would cost around $1.4 million, including GST.
District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney, who serves on the South Cariboo Joint Committee, said that this estimated cost is inaccurate.
"That does not include a Zamboni room or the washrooms, that was for the rink and the roof structure, and that was also incorporating quite a bit of volunteer time and labour that Vision West had not broken down into his quotation," Pinkney stated.
Pinkney said the construction of the outdoor rink, if it does go ahead, will be constructed in phases and will depend on the availability of funds. She said the 100 Mile Arena Society are hoping to have the final budget numbers for the project at the next South Cariboo Joint Committee meeting.
"If a base were built, that would be phase one. Then, if it was decided to put a roof on it, that would be phase two. And then further, if it was decided and money was found for a Zamboni room and washrooms, that would become phase three," Pinkney described.
The phasing will be determined in a future meeting of the South Cariboo Joint Committee.
"It will come back to the next joint meeting when we actually have the full costing of what the big design would be and what it could be, broken down into possibly three different phases of construction," Pinkney said.
Previously, the outdoor rink had operated on the site of SD27 tennis courts on Cedar Avenue. Despite its relative success, there were numerous challenges it faced, including a ten-inch drop as well as the fact that the outdoor rink had no roof, leading to issues related to sun exposure as well as snow piling up.
With files from Fiona Grisswell.
