The process towards a new arena is moving ahead in Greater Vernon.
On Wednesday, the Regional District of North Okanagan board approved going to a request for proposals for a feasibility and cost analysis report into a new ice sheet replacing Civic Arena.
`Civic is in really dire straights,` said director Catherine Lord of the 1938 facility.
`The brine system could fail at any time so we have no choice with what we should do.
`The scope of the report will look at three options: twinning Kal Tire Place, twinning Priest Valley Arena and a new stand-alone arena.
Up to $100,000 will be spent on the feasibility-cost analysis, and it`s expected that the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee will hold a special meeting June 25 so a final decision can be made on whether a borrowing referendum would be held this fall on a new ice sheet.
An engineering assessment was recently conducted on Civic and it suggested it would cost $1.5 million to replace the slab surface, which is at risk from a deteriorating brine (refrigeration) system.The engineering report also says an immediate $100,000 in life and safety upgrades would be needed if Civic remains open while short-term upgrades of $5.6 million would be needed in two to five years.
A rough figure of $5 million has been suggested for a new arena but firm costs have not been determined.
Look for more in Friday`s Morning Star.
