Smithers council provided approval in principle for phase three of the Northern Edge Sports Association’s (NESA) expansion project during Tuesday’s meeting.
That evening, NESA provided a presentation updating council on the project.
“It’s about strengthening long-term recreation infrastructure, improving accessibility, supporting healthy aging, and addressing growing recreation needs,” said Lara Collingwood, Executive Director.
In February, the association announced phase two of the project reached its funding goal and would start construction in March.
Phase three is the gymnastics hall building expansion, which would introduce a new large multi-purpose space, entrance, indoor running track, and more.
With the approval in principle, Collingwood said NESA could better leverage federal, provincial, and corporate funding opportunities for the project.
One concern brought up by councillor Frank Wray was around possible soil contamination from the site formerly being a public works yard.
“If it ends up being a site that is unusable, which apparently wasn’t the case for [the Dze L K’ant housing project], it just comes at a cost, then we’ll deal with the funding options at that time,” Collingwood said.
She added the phase three expansion could also be moved to another site if they aren’t able to build it onto the existing building.
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