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Parksville city council discusses ‘next steps’ for aquatic and rec centre project

Committee of the whole meeting features talk of potential sites
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A screenshot showing five possible site locations for the proposed aquatic and recreation centre, as seen during Parksville council’s committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 16, 2022. (Submitted photo)

Parksville city council continues to discuss the future of a proposed aquatic and recreation centre project.

Mayor Ed Mayne said the purpose of a Feb. 16 commitee of the whole meeting was to discuss the scope, siting criteria, timelines and next steps of the project.

Chief administrative officer Keeva Kehler presented a brief overview of where the project currently stands and noted city staff members are requesting further direction.

“It has been underway in some form for almost all of this council’s term,” said Kehler.

The city’s public engagement website LetsTalkParksville.ca has all the information to date on the project, including staff reports, consultant reports, as well as comments from the public.

The discussion was mainly dominated by which suggested sites were favourited by council members.

In Kehler’s presentation, there were five possibilities: Wembley Mall, Loblaws site, the community park, Alberni Highway near Despard Avenue and Tuan Road.

“We did have a fair number of sites suggested by members of the public throughout the consultation phase… I think it’s very important to stress at this point that council has not selected any of these sites,” she said.

“This is a very complicated process,” said Mayne, following Kehler’s presentation. “We won’t be making the decision, the public will be making this decision.”

READ MORE: Parksville council will meet to discuss future of proposed aquatic and recreation facility

Throughout the meeting, three sites were frequently brought up: the Tuan Road site, the community park site and the Alberni Highway site. Council considered each site’s associated pros and cons, including accessibility (both with or without a vehicle), space availability for parking and possible expansion and if there were environmental concerns.

Coun. Mark Chandler favourited the community park as his top pick, since he liked the idea of combining various recreational activities into one zone, like the volleyball courts, skate park and Lions Ventureland Playground.

“Because the community park has so much going on there, I think more is not always better… it starts to put a lot into a small space,” said Coun. Adam Fras, adding his “home run” location would be the Alberni Highway site.

For the accessibility of both sites, Coun. Marilyn Wilson said she liked the community park, despite some archaeological constraints and environmental concerns, and the Alberni Highway site.

“I think that highway access is important - or access is important, whether it be highway or not,” she said. Wilson also said she believed the Tuan Road site would make a great restoration project.

During the meeting, Coun. Doug O’Brien made the motion, seconded by Fras, that the committee recommends council choose a site large enough to accommodate the full-scale multiplex and pool, with no commitment to building it all right away; and that staff be directed to do a preliminary technical assessment of the top three sites of Tuan Road, Alberni Highway and the Parksville Community Park.

mandy.moraes@pqbnews.com

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Mandy Moraes

About the Author: Mandy Moraes

I joined Black Press Media in 2020 as a multimedia reporter for the Parksville Qualicum Beach News, and transferred to the News Bulletin in 2022
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