THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay has extended its deadline for public feedback on a controversial proposed indoor sports complex, as well as releasing new information on the facility’s expected cost.
Residents now have until Aug. 3, rather than July 19, to provide comment through the city’s website, while new materials have been added for review, including revised estimates that show a slight cost increase.
The moves come after the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce criticized the city’s original public consultation process as insufficient in an open letter released July 10.
"The engagement platform does not provide any information relating to the final projected capital cost, operating costs, revenue and useage projections, or a business plan,” it stated.
A city report, prepared in June but released to the public Friday, provides at least partial answers to several of the letter’s 13 questions. However, the city has remained quiet on the letter’s central demand for a virtual town hall on the issue.
Instead, residents can view the report, as well as a virtual presentation from architects Stantec at the city’s website before providing written comment. The presentation will also be aired on television through TbayTel OnDemand, Shaw, and BlueCurve.
Revised estimates for the facility, which would be located at Chapples Park, now peg its cost at $33.6 million, with a possible variance of 10 to 15 per cent. That compares to an original estimate of $30 million, with a possible variance of 30 per cent.
The report chalks up the increase to higher-than-expected site development costs.
The city has yet to secure any external funding for the project, according to the report, though it has applied for nearly $22 million through the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
The report suggests the facility won’t operate at a loss once up and running, though it does not share any of the information underlying that assertion.
“The pro-forma completed by Administration suggests the facility would break-even or possibly provide a small surplus,” the report reads. “Revenues are based on the expected field use provided by the end users and take into account various user fee scenarios.”
According to the city, proposed uses for the facility include soccer, walking, ultimate, football, baseball, drone competitions, cricket, lacrosse, large community events/cultural gatherings, and a potential emergency evacuation centre.
The city also says it could be used for trade shows, though the new report states many of the requirements for such shows - such as replacement flooring and larger entryways - were dropped to contain costs.
