Repairs to NDCC Aquatic Centre could reach $600,000
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Regional District of Central Kootenay is continuing with repairs to the Nelson and District Aquatic Centre after a section of ceiling tiles fell into the pool in late January.
General Manager of Community Services Joe Chirico said crews have erected scaffolding in the pool area and are now setting up a containment area in preparation to remove the false ceiling in phase two of the repairs.
“It will feel great for all our staff to see the T-bar ceiling actually taken down because it means we’re one step closer to fixing the pool area and getting our community their aquatic center back,” said Joe Chirico, General Manager of Community Services.
Chirico said the second phase of the project would be completed by late April.
The RDCK has hired Phoenix Enterprises Ltd. to undertake three main tasks:
1. Set up a containment area, which includes enclosing the work area in plastic sheeting to keep lead paint and tiles within the construction zone. Crews will also construct temporary walls in the fitness center to separate it from the pool viewing area during demolition.
2. Remove the ceiling according to WorksafeBC guidelines for removal of hazardous materials. Lead paint, a hazardous material, has flaked from steel girders onto the surface of ceiling tiles. The tiles themselves are not hazardous.
3. Sandblast the roof trusses so that they can be repainted with lead-free paint.
The first phase of the repairs is going to hit the high end of the $100,000 mark.
The second phase — renovations will include wall improvements to fully separate the fitness center from the aquatic center to ensure longevity of the building, as well as new paint, lighting, and acoustic treatments — should bring the total project costs, taxes included, to approximately $600,000 Chirico said.
“We’re very conscious that when you tear apart an older building, you can find things you weren’t expecting,” said Chirico.
“So far we’ve been fortunate that most of what we’ve found had been anticipated in advance. As anyone who has renovated an older house knows, this definitely isn’t always the case.”
The RDCK Board approved the NDCC project budget on March 28.
“Our main criteria throughout this project are that the pool area needs to be safe, functional and up to modern standards for the coming years,” said Ramona Faust, Recreation Commission Chair and Director for Area E.
“This facility has a lot of life left in it, and we want to see families, seniors and everyone in our community back enjoying the pool area as soon as we can.”
Depending upon how work progresses, the earliest the aquatic center could reopen is June 2013.
The RDCK will continue to update the public regularly.
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