Dartmouth may get 4-rink complex if staff recommendation approved

Halifax staff are recommending the approval of a construction and operating contract worth $42.6 million to build a four-rink complex in Dartmouth.

Ellis Don, which will receive $40,773,729 will split the contract with the current operator of Bedford's BMO Centre, Nustadia Recreation, which will get $1,683,210. 

Three companies bid on the construction contract, but Ellis Don was the only one to meet the technical requirements. 

The project will include three NHL-sized rinks and one Olympic-sized arena.

"The Olympic ice surface — I was in favour of that," said Sean McKenna, the President of the Central Minor Hockey Association. "They have one out in St. Margarets Bay and for the kids, it is great."  

The local speed skating community has also been pushing for a larger ice surface for their events. But while there is some seating in every arena, city officials are not recommending spending $575,000 for 300-500 extra seats asked for in the Olympic-sized venue.

According to the staff report, the extra seating is not a municipal need and should be paid by fundraising through sports groups.

"A little bit of a compromise on the seating," said McKenna. "But at the same time you're getting 75 per cent of what you asked for, so I don't think it's a bad thing. I think it's pretty good."

'Super pleased'

The complex will also have outside access to four changing rooms for teams that use the nearby sports fields in Burnside. There will also be 584 parking spots and close to $400,000 set aside for a piece of functional art at the new facility.  

The staff are recommending that the contract should not include extra snow load provisions because the price tag for that would be $790,000 — or a roof-top patio viewing platform, priced at $400,000. 

They also don't believe believe a rainwater harvesting system nor electric ice surfacers are necessary when the price is expected to be $200,000 for both.

"There's some little odds and sods," McKenna said. "But I think overall, as somebody who has spent the last six years of his life on this, I'm super pleased with what I'm hearing about."

Halifax Council will debate the tender Tuesday. If approved, the complex is expected to be open to the public September 2017.