PRESS RELEASES

Civic Centre on a fast track - Posted on 2009-01-17

Efforts to bring a new arena complex to St. Stephen are moving quicker than planned and if
the cards fall the right way, construction could start as early as this year instead of in four years, as had been expected.
“If there is going to be money available, we can have shovels in the ground,” said Richard Fulton, chair of the Charlotte County Civic Centre Project at a St. Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday.
“We are in position.We are getting local fundraising. We have concepts, we have organization and we can be there. We are looking for the various levels of government to give us the nod and we could have shovels in the ground as early as this year.”
Fulton said the project is moving ahead much more rapidly than anticipated and the number one question is, “what’s going on that is new now?“
Fulton describes the process of building such a project as six phases.
“You first need to have a concept,” says Fulton.
The second phase involves raising the money to build the project. In this case, one third of the money needed must come first from the public before government funding will be available.
“At the same time we need to keep all levels of government engaged in the project, understanding where we are and what is happening,” says Fulton.
The third phase involves making the formal applications to the provincial and federal governments.
The fourth phase moves into project management.
“We have to know exactly where it is. We have to know exactly what is going to be in it,” says Fulton.
The fifth phase is the construction phase.
“The original schedule had us breaking ground in about four years and that allowed people who made
long-term commitments for the cash to come in. Recently we have been hearing about provincial and federal infrastructure money which may become available,” says Fulton.
A significant number of other projects will be asking for this money, so the Civic Centre planners have been active to ensure that this project is also one of those ones being considered.
“We are meeting with (federal cabinet minister) Greg Thompson and we are meeting with provincial representatives,” he said.
Another area that the Civic Centre planners are taking into consideration are the economic factors.
“In the first five years the civic centre can be the motor of $11.8 million in economic activity in this area,” says Fulton.
It is estimated up to 200 jobs could be created. Fulton also spoke of spinoff activity, such as increased demand for accommodations, food service, and related industries in the area.
One chamber member was concerned that plans for the new centre don’t include two ice surfaces.
“It is not a matter of how big the rink is, it is how many ice sheets we have,” said Debbie Murphy.
“If the town decides on its own to close the Border Arena, then we will have one arena left. And my concern is that there is not going to be enough ice for the children.”
Fulton recognizes that this is a challenge, but adds that a second ice surface would cost an additional $4.5 million. The committee is looking at building the facility on a site where if an additional ice sheet is a possibility, there will be the room for that expansion.
As for where that site may be, the committee has not yet reached a decision, but have two areas, both within town limits, in mind, Fulton said.