The city is looking for additional members, after appointing six people to an advisory technical working group (ATWG) to assist the public and council with review of technical aspects of design, construction and operation of a proposed aquatic and recreation centre.
The ATWG will also provide neutral expert advice on the recommendations provided by consultant reports for the project. Council appointed the first six members during its July 5 meeting.
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, according to a media release from the city. Group members will serve without compensation.
The deadline for applications is July 30. The city said applicants should email a letter and/or CV with relevant background information to administration@parksville.ca. Terms of reference for the working group may be viewed on the city’s website.
Council voted, at its July 5 meeting, to reallocate funds to alternative location site assessments for the proposed facility and pause studies on the controversial site at the end of Despard Avenue. The decision followed a verbal report on preliminary findings by Golder-WSP, which identified potential valuable ecological communities at the site that may present constrictions to the proposed development.
The city said the next phase of the project will include public engagement to determine location and project scope. When a location is chosen, site condition assessments including environmental, geotechnical, hydrogeological and other construction related assessments will be completed.
The project feasibility study was released to the public in February and reports, preliminary studies and background information are posted to the project website, Let’s Talk Parksville.
