No pool expansion for Queens Place

By QCCR FM 99.3.
 Date: Oct. 16th, 2018 - 11:15 AM

There won’t be a pool added to Queens Place Emera Centre anytime soon.

Earlier in September the Queens Community Aquatic Society presented a plan to add a four lane pool to Queens Place. The costs was estimated at $12 million dollars, which would require the municipality to pitch in $4 million and the remaining $8 million to come from federal and provincial funding. After crunching the numbers, the Region of Queens determined a tax increase of 8 cents per one hundred dollars of assessed value would be required to cover the costs of building and maintaining the pool.

In a written statement Mayor David Dagley said while council sees the benefits, the costs are too high for the taxpayers to bear.

“Queens Community Aquatic Society has worked passionately to advance this project since 2015, putting in many hours of research, and planning, and have collaborated with Region staff, Council, and the public. We deeply appreciate their efforts and thank them for their tireless work,” said Mayor Dagley.  “While Council agrees that there are tremendous benefits in having a large aquatic facility in our community, we must also weigh the cost to residents and their ability to pay.

“Council will now turn its attention to planning for future upgrades of the current 51-year old Milton Centennial Pool to ensure its continued operation. We also manage the North Queens Aquatic Centre in Caledonia, which was built in 1995, and is currently in good condition operationally,” Mayor Dagley noted.

The Aquatic Society formed in 2015 with the goal of adding an indoor pool to Queens Place Emera Centre. The society said they are disappointed in the decision, but recognize that without outside funding help a pool isn’t feasible at this time.

“We wish to express appreciation to the Mayor, CAO, and Director of Recreation, for their work with us and for their diligence in doing what is affordable for the Region. Without a significant contribution from a benefactor, the funding of an aquatic facility is not currently feasible.”