The $44.9 million total budget for Lac La Biche County’s new aquatic centre will not be exceeded, say managers of the ongoing construction project.
Members of Lac La Biche County council were provided with an update on the budget and design of the Bold Center Aquatic Centre development during the June 11 regular council meeting. The overall budget includes a contingency amount of about $7 million to account for unexpected price overruns.
Alexander Godfrey and Michael Harbison, project managers for Turnbull Construction, gave the assurance during a recent meeting with Lac La Biche County councillors. The new swimming pool complex, which is being built at the Lac La Biche Bold Center, is expected to be open by mid 2026.
Godfrey stated that at the end of the design development phase in May 2024, the company did a full cost estimate update on the project, which included early works and foundations package pricing.
Godfrey pointed out that the total approved project budget-$44.9 million-has not changed, and that the team intends to keep it that way.
“The bottom line is, the project’s on budget, and we’re working towards maintaining that budget,” he said.
Design and soft costs related to the project were also discussed during the presentation. According to Godfrey, between October and May, project managers did see a modest increase of about $30,000 on those budget lines. The reason for this increase, he explained, was due to the higher cost of design fees, plus a reduction in some other soft costs such as insurance where some savings were found.
The reason for the increase in design fees, he continued, is because they are awarded on a percentage basis based off the construction budget number. Currently, the construction budget number for the aquatic centre is $37.55 million, up from $34.8 million back in October.
That increase, Godfrey said, was driven by such factors as trade pricing, concrete, and mechanical equipment. He went on to say that as managers increase design detail, there is a contingency available which is there for the dedicated purpose of picking up those costs.
After explaining the finer details of costs incurred by the project team, Godfrey said all in all, there was a total increase of about $2.8 million, in which contingency reserves were used to address this variance.
Contingency reserves, he said, were at about $4.5 million in October, but, as of June 11, were sitting at around $1.7 million.
“Importantly, again, that bottom line number hasn’t changed…so we’re still sitting on budget,” he said, explaining that the team is currently working through plans to increase the $1.7 million contingency number.
Throughout the session, officials with Turnbull Construction and EllisDon addressed council, providing additional details regarding costs associated with the project as well as increases, including carbon taxes.
When this portion of the presentation had concluded, Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov asked members of council if they had any questions. There was no response, and the presentation continued.
Council was then provided with a design update by a representative from the architectural firm DIALOG, who stated that the biggest change that has happened with the project since the schematic design phase of the project was approved last year is the addition of the outdoor area. She added that since the initial design was approved, a hot tub has been added as well as a cold shower to emulate the Nordic spa experience, along with fencing, planting, a fire table and other amenities.
Foundations ready
Harbison spoke about the overall schedule of the project. He said the earthworks, piling and foundations work is currently underway and is scheduled to be finished in early August.
