Demolition of the Four Seasons Leisure Pool has been completed and the area is now being used as a temporary parking lot.
In a report on the city’s major capital projects of 2022 going before city council on Monday, the city reported that the $3.125 million demolition project is expected to be fully completed in the third quarter of 2023. As of the report date, the project was on budget and the city had spent $608,386 of the total budget for the project.
“The demolition is complete and Terry Fox Statue has been relocated to the new pool. The asphalt parking lot is open,” the report says. “A portion of the demo area will be used for temporary parking this winter and expanded in spring 2023. Schedule behind due to labour shortages.”
As of Thursday, vehicles were free to park in the asphalt and gravel areas of the lot.
Signs posted in the lot said that parking is free for up to three hours, while using a civic facility. Drivers must register their plate number at the pay station inside the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre.
Construction of the Canfor Leisure Pool across the street was also behind schedule and not expected to be fully complete until near the end of 2023.
“(The) project has achieved occupancy and substantial completion. Deficiencies remain,” the report says. “Some deficiencies will remain until warmer weather returns in Spring 2023. Pool has been open for one month and has been well received by the public. Behind schedule due to labour shortage and seasonal deficiencies.”
As of the report, the city had spent $36.65 million on the project. The project was expected to stay within the $39.126 million budget city council approved on May 9, 2022. The original budget for the pool was $35.75 million, plus $500,000 for the addition of the NinjaCross course, which council approved on Feb. 22, 2021.
Of the $2.876 million cost overrun, $1.7 million was attributed to deficient primer which was on the structural steel beams when they were delivered, city director of recreation and events Andy Beesley wrote in a report to city council in August. The city is “actively seeking compensation” for the costs linked to the deficient primer, he added at that time.
Of 42 major capital projects listed in the city’s 2022 capital project report, all but two were projected to be delivered on budget. The budgets for the mechanical and building envelop upgrade of the Prince George Aquatic Centre and the budget for construction of a daycare at Dagg Road were both under review.
The city had received a $6.3 million grant to cover part of the cost of the planned $8.58 million upgrade to the Aquatic Centre, the report says. To date, the city had spent just over $74,000 on the project, which was initiated after the opening of the Canfor Leisure Pool.
“(The) grant includes condition to improve GHG Emissions requiring (an) increase in project scope which will result in a budget amendment request coming to Council at the appropriate time,” the report says.
The Prince George Native Friendship Centre is the project manager for the Dagg Road daycare facility project, which is being funded by the provincial government, the report said.
“A request to amend the Capital Plan is planned for December 19, 2022 to increase this project budget by the amount reduced from Malaspina Avenue Daycare project budget as approved by grant funders,” the report added.
