Dieppe City Council is divided on the benefits of a new skating oval, with some councillors saying the $1.4-million price tag is simply too much money, and others saying it’s money well spent.
With eight councillors splitting the vote, Mayor Yvon Lapierre broke the tie in favour of moving forward with the construction of a refrigerated skating oval.
“This is part of a master plan that we have for leisure and community living,” says Coun. Paul Belliveau, who also voted in favour of building the new oval. “I don’t believe that the investment is that great for the kind of infrastructure we’re going to get.”
The current ice surface behind city hall is at the mercy of the extremes of nature, but Coun. Jordan Nowlan says the $1.4 million price tag for a new refrigerated skating oval could be used elsewhere.
He was one of four councillors who voted against the project.
“For me, having a project of this size, we have an oval that does do the job,” says Nowlan. “We’re not saying no to the project forever, just, our feeling was that now wasn’t the best time.”
Under the same proposal, the city borrowed $1.7 million to relocate two ball fields near Centennial Arena – the preferred location for the new multi-ice complex – bringing the total to over $3 million.
“It’s pretty well worn out its usefulness, to a certain extent, and we have been considering it for some time, how to replace that complex,” says Belliveau.
The plan is to have the skating oval ready for fall 2017, with details expected to be released sometime this year.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis
