Delta council endorsed the design concept for the North Delta Recreation Centre expansion at its Sept. 19 meeting.
The concept includes a 25,000-square-foot expansion of the centre and replacement of 6,000 square feet of aging infrastructure scheduled for removal. The expansion includes two key elements: a multi-purpose gymnasium and a North Delta Civic Business Office.
The expansion will provide residents with increased access to a broader range of municipal services such as bylaw enforcement, taxation, community planning and recreational programs.
The concept emerged after consultation with facility staff, user groups and the public at the mayor's town hall meetings and project-specific public meetings. Public feedback stressed the need to increase municipal services and capabilities in North Delta so residents don't have to travel to South Delta for civic services.
With an average of over 100 in-person municipal transactions taking place at North Delta Recreation Centre each day, over 50 per cent of Delta's population situated in North Delta, combined with the large-scale Delsom development taking place, population growth continues in this area.
Council says Delta must ensure its recreation, culture and business services meet these growing demands.
The cost of the expansion is estimated at $9 million. Delta's 2011 financial plan includes $6.5 million toward this project. The balance has been referred to the 2012 business planning workshop for consideration.
Council established financial reserves for community projects such as this to ensure the "no new borrowing" policy is upheld.
