By Cecilia Nasmith/Northumberland 89.7 FM/Today’s Northumberland
As much as everyone loves Cobourg’s Centennial Pool, Director of Community Services Brian Geerts warns that its days may be numbered.
At Wednesday’s Community Services, Protection and Economic Development standing committee of council, Geerts called the outdoor pool “a treasured asset in the community. Lots of people have enjoyed it, learned to swim there, brought their children to learn to swim there, brought their grandchildren to learn to swim there”
However, the pool’s physical components, however, don’t meet usability or accessibility standards
“This year, the mechanical systems, despite our constant patching, got through the season with quite a few shutdowns and interruptions, despite our best efforts,” he said.
“I don’t know if we can start up next year.”
Geerts offered some examples of what it might cost to turn things around.
A new commercial-grade vinyl liner with adjustments to plumbing would cost $500,000, but it does not increase accessibility.
A sterling-steel liner with vinyl insert with adjustments to plumbing and accessible entry where the pool deck currently is would cost $1.6-million.
And none of that addresses the pool building. No detailed assessments have been done, Geerts said, but current construction costs suggest an adequate solution might be $2-million for a 3,000-sq.-ft. building.
“All these solutions would continue to provide a nine- or 10-week swimming season. It does not increase the swimming season at all, so there’s no increase in service,” he pointed out.
“We are currently assuming we will be able to operate another year. Our 10-week budget for operation in partnership with the Y is already in the operating budget.”
As for the mechanical factor, he warned, there will come a day when patch-up repairs no longer work.
What this means is that they will plan to operate, recognizing that at some point they may have to shut it down.
