It appears that the observatory project at Fraser River Heritage Park is dead.
Mission council issued a press release indicating many problems with both construction, financing and the Mission Heritage Association’s business plan, and stating that the project will be repurposed.
Along with the press release was a copy of an independent consultant’s report that cast doubt on the MHA’s business plan.
The release also listed numerous construction concerns and safety issues with other building projects in the park – including staff reports to back up those concerns – all which were being developed by the MHA.
There has been plenty of public debate about the district’s move to end its maintenance contract with the MHA and take over control of the popular park at the end of the year.
We now have a detailed explanation of why the decision was made.
If all that the district claims is true, and there doesn’t appear to be a reason to believe otherwise, then the observatory should not continue and the remaining buildings must be brought up to code.
However, there are always two sides to story. It will be interesting to see if the MHA issues its own statements indicating how and why the buildings ended up with these problems.
