Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
A draft report on the feasibility of a new aquatic centre in the South Okanagan will soon unveil capital costs and other vital information.
A report from consultant Sierra Planning is expected in mid-December when the South Okanagan Aquatic Centre Advisory Committee will discuss the “meat and potatoes” of the study.
During a Zoom meeting last week, consultant Jon Hack said the goal is to reach an agreement on the building scale and its functions.
Make no bones about it, an aquatic centre will be an expensive venture to undertake by the towns of Oliver, Osoyoos and the Osoyoos Indian Band.
The committee was shown examples of other indoor pool facilities, starting as low as $8.8 million in Terrace to more than $20 million in other parts of Canada.
It was reported that more than 1,000 people took part in the public survey. Nearly half (47 per cent) of the respondents were from Osoyoos, while 29 per cent were from Oliver. Area C and Area A represented six and seven per cent, respectively.
Most of the respondents (82 per cent) indicated they engage in aquatic activities such as swimming, while 18 per cent said they did not.
Hack said 82 per cent of respondents indicated they either use a private pool or travel to Penticton to go swimming, which he noted is a “clear marker for demand.”
More than 80 per cent of respondents said they travel less than an hour to get to an indoor swimming facility.
Overall, 82 per cent of respondents support the idea of a new aquatic centre in the South Okanagan, while 18 per cent indicated they disagree or are undecided.
Not surprisingly, the main concern indicated was the cost of such a facility. Some noted that swimming facilities already exist in the region.
Most respondents (81 per cent) said that a closer proximity (within 30 minutes) is an important quality in an aquatic centre. Active transportation and sufficient parking are two other factors.
While numerous potential sites have been discussed, a preferred site has been identified – Fruitvale Way on Highway 97 north of Osoyoos, not far from Road 22.
Top priorities for a new indoor facility as outlined by respondents include leisure swimming (83 per cent), family recreation (80 per cent), therapy (59 per cent), fitness (65 per cent), and swim lessons (78 per cent).
Additional amenities desired include a café/snack bar, fitness studio, weight room, gym and ice arena.
One survey respondent said: “if it’s not 100 per cent wheelchair accessible, don’t build it.”
Architect Cal Meiklejohn presented examples of other aquatic centres, including Penticton’s that cost $23 million, and H2O in Kelowna that cost $41 million.
Ninety-five per cent of local survey respondents said they would like to see a six-lane leisure pool, while 91 per cent want to see a therapy pool. Sixty-seven per cent indicated they want to see a waterslide.
( File photo by Lyonel Doherty)
Hack said it is not advisable to build a stand-alone aquatic centre, noting that a multi-purpose facility is recommended.
Carol Sheridan, Oliver Parks and Recreation manager, agreed, saying it’s not ideal to build such a facility without other amenities. One such amenity is a new arena, a topic that was also discussed by the committee.
Committee member Barry Romanko advised fellow members to consider a large lobby (common area) to avoid congestion.
Fellow member Mike Campol, representing the Osoyoos Indian Band, said they are currently in the second phase of a joint grant application to construct a multi-pad hockey arena in the area. He noted there is a potential to have both the arena and aquatic centre on the same piece of land.
But committee member Petra Veintimilla said they first have to figure out if an aquatic centre is feasible, especially the cost.
“Can we afford it?”
At the meeting’s end, the committee instructed the consultants to be more liberal with designing open space. Member Gerald Davis said this is particularly important considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
“What Barry said is really important – to make sure we have that extra space.”
