Iqaluit launches study of infrastructure needs

City officials in Iqaluit are launching a feasibility study on four badly-needed municipal infrastructure projects, including a new pool and a new city hall.

Council voted unanimously this week to hire a consultant to prepare the feasibility study, which would look at which of the four projects are a priority and how the city can fund them.

During a strategic planning meeting in December, councillors and city management agreed that a new aquatic centre is the city's "top priority capital infrastructure project," assistant recreation director Amy Elgersma said at a council meeting Sunday.

"Several other large capital infrastructure needs were identified, including a multipurpose recreation facility, a new city hall and a new fire hall," she added.

Pressing need for new pool

Chief administrator John Husseysaid there is a pressing need for an alternative to the aging swimming pool inside the Astro Hill complex.

The City of Iqaluit has been leasing the pool space for more than 35 years, paying about $17,000 a month in rent.

"Right now we're renewing the swimming pool lease for another three years, and there's going to be a minor increase in the lease," Hussey said.

Elgersma said the feasibility study would examine, among other factors, how much space is needed for the new facilities, what they should look like, how much they would cost, and how much the city should pay for them.

The city hired consultants in 2005 to prepare a similar feasibility study on a new aquatics centre.

But in a plebiscite the following year, ratepayers voted against allowing the city to borrow $12 million for a proposed new aquatics and recreationcentre and $6 million for a new city hall building.