The city has extended the application deadline for an expert panel to advise council on the location of the proposed Parksville Aquatic and Recreation Centre to June 4.
The Advisory Technical Working Group will review technical aspects of the design, construction and operation of the project and provide neutral expert guidance on the recommendations contained in the consultant reports, the city said in a May 31 news release.
Members are expected to be licensed or registered to practice as a qualified professional in B.C. (retired members are acceptable); a qualified professional in their respective field; minimum five years demonstrated professional experience in their respective field (B.C. experience preferred); minimum bachelor’s degree in field of expertise or certification from an accredited post-secondary institution in respective field or equivalent combination of experience and qualifications. Members appointed to the working group will serve without compensation.
The city will sign a contract with Golder-WSP to conduct a preliminary site assessment of a location at the end of Despard Avenue for the proposed Parksville Aquatic and Recreation Centre.
Phase One of the assessment will cost $125,000 and will include ecological assessments, a hydrogeological assessment, a geotechnical assessment, a civil engineering assessment and a land analysis report. Golder-WSP is an affiliate branch of WSP Canada and provides specialized hydrogeological and environmental expertise.
Council also authorized the city to hire HDR Architecture Associates to carry out the public consultation and engagement strategy for the proposed centre.
Besides the location at the end of Despard Avenue, potential sites at Parksville Community Park, Island Highway and Pym Street, Wembley Mall, Parksville Elementary School and Tuan Road are under consideration.
The project feasibility study was released to the public on Feb. 1 and reports, preliminary studies and background information was posted to the project website, Let’s Talk Parksville.
Council endorsed the creation of the panel at its April 19 meeting.
Applications can be sent to the the city’s administration department at Box 1390, 100 Jensen Ave East, Parksville V9P 2H3, or by email to administration@parksville.ca. They will be received until 3 pm, Friday, June 4.
