Electoral Area F of the Regional District of Nanaimo will allocate $2.2 million from its community works funds for the construction of the Meadowood Community Centre project.
The electoral area services committee endorsed on Jan. 7 the allocation of funds as well as the tender to be awarded to Dawson Wallace Construction for a value of $1,648.000.
The project, in the works for a number of years, led by by the Corcan-Meadowood Residents Association, will be located on Galvin Place in Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood).
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The cost of to build the pre-fabricated building has gone up from $1.35 million to $2.2 million. Manager of recreation services Dean Banman explained there are additional costs of $503,682 that were not factored in the tender amount.
Banman said the RDN has an option to reduce the cost of the tender by taking out some of the items listed in the request for proposal. One is the exterior liner wall and roof panels that would cost $75,100, which Banman described as mere aesthetics and would not compromise the functionality of the building.
The community works fund currently has a balance of $2,585,589 and is expected to receive an annual transfer of $380,096 in 2021. Apart from the Meadowood Community Centre project, some of the funds will be used to pay for the ongoing Errington Community Park Playground ($500,000) and the Melrose Place Water Reservoir Replacement ($97,000). The estimated closing CWF balance for the area in 2021 will be $168,684.