REGINA - Residents and swimming groups in Regina have been pleading for the city to construct the new Indoor Aquatics Facility (IAF) right away rather than try to maintain and keep the current Lawson Aquatics Centre.
One of those groups is the Friends of Wascana Pool, which is lobbying for the city to construct the new indoor facility so different types of people can train, learn and enjoy swimming.
Rob Nelson is part of Friends of Wascana Pool and said refurbishing the current Lawson Aquatics Centre cannot ensure all the needs of different swimming groups, clubs, athletes, etc.
“Redeveloping the [Lawson] aquatic centre would just give you another 50-meter pool. We don't have more capacity in the city. The swim clubs can't grow, people can't go take swim lessons, people can't get into the pool during peak hours now to train," said Nelson.
He added refurbishing the Lawson would take years and make it even more difficult for swimmers to have anywhere to train or learn. Shutting down the Lawson would also overcrowd the Wascana Pool, according to Nelson.
City council approved 9-2 in favour of constructing the new IAF, which is estimated to cost over $245 million.
No timetable was given as to when the IAF would undergo construction, but the Mayor of Regina at the time, Sandra Masters, said they hoped to get shovels in the ground by 2025.
Nelson believes starting the construction now will ensure swimmers have a new indoor facility before the Lawson pool becomes unusable in Oct. 2029.
He also mentioned how delaying the project will increase construction costs. Nelson said Canada has seen construction costs rise due to inflation.
Originally, the budget for the IAF was $165 million. Since then, an additional $80 million has been added to the costs. Masters said during the approval that the construction costs would have been significantly less if the city approved the facility eight years ago.
Nelson said there is a concern that groups against the pool will delay the process even further. Those groups are worried about paying more money each year to fund the IAF.
To fund the pool fully, Regina City Council raised two options. The first was increasing the mill rate one time by 2.7 per cent. The mill rate determines the tax per dollar for a property’s value.
The second option would also be a mill increase, but more gradually. Each year, the mill rate would rise by 0.5 per cent. For example, a $12 increase in the first year would rise to a $24 increase in the second year.
To avoid those costs, Lori Bresciani, former Ward 4 councillor, suggested spending $60 million to update the Lawson pool to last 25 additional years.
Nelson said it makes more sense to fund an additonal $20 million into a new aquatics facility that will last 50 years rather than spend $60 million to upgrade a facility that needs new heating, a new roof, new change rooms, etc.
Bresciani also proposed building a new aquatics facility in a different area while keeping the Lawson. Nelson said pools typically do not generate revenue, and the city would pay more overtime for staffing, maintenance and more. He added the Lawson pool could not be powered by geothermal heating like the new IAF, leaving the Lawson running continuously on natural gas.
The advantage of geothermal heating is after 15 years, heating a facility will be free if you eliminate operational costs, said Nelson. Using natural gas will only keep those costs going.
He also spoke about the importance of swimming as a sport. Swimming is a more accepting sport where people of all genders/races can feel accepted. It also prevents older adults from being less injury-prone and gives those suffering from injuries a chance to rehabilitate.
Nelson firmly believes swimming helps maintain a healthy lifestyle, and he plans to work with the new mayor and city councillors to ensure the IAF comes sooner rather than later.
