Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Next Steps for NC Arena Replacement Project

Joint Release - City of Quesnel/Cariboo Regional District:

The North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee unanimously endorsed a resolution to proceed with the Arena Replacement Project on the site as proposed during the public consultation process prior to the referendum in June 2014. The site which is located on the parking lot of the former Cariboo Regional District Library is adjacent to the existing Twin Arenas.

In order to proceed with the proposed site, the joint planning committee directed staff to work with CEI Architecture and the recently-acquired project manager, MKT Development Group Inc. to include value engineering suggestions to align project costs more closely with the budget, without losing the spirit and intent of the referendum.

We gave a strong message last night to the architect that this project remains a $17 million project,” states CRD Vice-Chair and North Cariboo Joint Committee Co-Chair Ted Armstrong. “They have been given their marching orders and I look forward to seeing what they come back with including value engineered suggestions to get that price down.”

The most recent Quantity Survey provided an estimated cost of $22.3 million, while the pre-referendum concept-level estimates provided to the Cariboo Regional District and the City of Quesnel was $17 million. The cost increases can be attributed largely to unanticipated site development costs, which significantly exceeded the initial concept level estimates.

“I’m confident that the unanimous decision we made will enable this project to proceed in a timely manner and within the spirit and intent of the referendum,” says Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson.

During the meeting, the Project Manager also confirmed that now that final location has been determined, completion of the construction drawings can be completed by June with a Request for Proposals from general contractors to follow in August and September. Construction is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2016.

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