The City of Fort St. John is moving ahead with early spending on a proposed new aquatic facility, setting aside $1.2 million to prepare for construction if voters approve the project in an upcoming referendum.
City officials say the funding is intended to cover pre-construction work, including design refinement, planning, and other preparatory steps needed to move quickly should residents support the project.
The proposed facility would replace the aging North Peace Leisure Pool which opened in 1996.
Preliminary concepts for the new aquatic centre include expanded pool space and modern amenities designed to serve a wide range of users, from families and seniors to competitive swimmers and sports groups.
The facility is expected to cost $185 million. Ryan Harvey, communications manager for the City of Fort St. John, says the money being spent to prepare for construction will not add to the overall project budget.
The October referendum will play a key role in determining whether the project moves forward, with residents ultimately deciding whether to support borrowing and long-term funding for the new facility.
Harvey says investing in early planning helps reduce delays and ensures the project can move ahead without losing time if it receives public approval.
“Any further delays will just add more costs, and that could jeopardize the project,” Harvey said.