By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Users of the ice at the Grafon’s Haldimand Memorial Arena will have to look elsewhere this winter, following an emergency meeting of Alnwick-Haldimand Township council that made the decision that it had to be shut down for the coming season.
Manager of Parks, Recreation and Facilities Jeremy Giles reported trouble after operations began Sunday to prepare the ice for 2024-2025. The arena floor piping began to leak and, though staff and contractors were successful in isolating this leak, more leaks appeared when the start-up operations continued.
“Due to the nature of the leaks and aging area infrastructure, staff and contractors were unable to isolate and identify the location of the new leaks,” the press release said.
“The refrigeration plant was shut down as a result to avoid further mechanical failures and possible environmental concerns.”
Giles’s report to council estimated the cost of remedying the situation at $50,000 plus HST, but added that the testing involved in this work “could identify catastrophic failures in the piping which cannot be repaired.”
Faced with costs which potentially could not be estimated, council voted to accept his recommendation to shut down the ice this season, with only Councillor Mike Ainsworth dissenting.
Interviewed Friday, Mayor John Logel expressed some sadness with the decision.
“I have been close to that arena for 55 years,” Logel said.
“I was raised there and learned an awful lot of the good things in life and really appreciate all that.
“However, there’s a time where it’s not a feasible or wise decision to spend taxpayers’ money on something that has basically gone well beyond its service life.”
The floor and the boards, for example, had an expected lifespan of 30 years. They are now 57 years old.
“It was a difficult decision, and that’s what we do. We have to make those type of decisions with the information that we have.”
Prior to developments at the arena, hockey teams of all ages have formed up in anticipation of another great season in Grafton. The press release pledged that staff will contact them to let them know of the situation and help them find alternative arrangements. However, Logel says they have encountered tough sledding on this so far, as all Northumberland arenas he has contacted report that all reasonable ice times are full.
Logel and Deputy Mayor Joan Stover offered further details, such as the fact that the arena reserve of $88,000 could not be tapped for this work. It is a regular reserve as opposed to an emergency reserve, meaning it is for looking ahead and possible future development as opposed to funds that are on tap for emergencies.
At his New Year’s Day levee, Logel had referred to an anonymous citizen who was willing to donate as much as $1-million in the event a new community facility is needed but, again, this money is for looking ahead and future development as opposed to emergencies.
Meanwhile, Stover pointed out, the ball diamonds, playgrounds and trails remain open for everyone, and staff are working on a report for how the arena building itself might be used in the coming months.
Stover recalled talking with Councillor Mary Catherine O’Neill last summer about how this kind of planning has to be focused on what the community needs. Council has determined that this will be a key goal of a feasibility study for a potential new facility, having passed a motion to proceed with an RFP.
