Public Works and Fire Rescue Facility Design
Council approved bringing forward amendments to the 2021-2025 Financial Plan to include $475,000 in 2021 for the design of a public works and fire rescue facility, funded from Facilities Life Cycle Reserves.
The Public Works department operates out of a leased portion of a building in the Industrial Park, which does not include a works yard, is inadequate and unsuitable for the provision of public works services.
The existing Fire Hall is located at 7850 Superior Road on provincial government land through a licence of occupation that expires in 2032 and is subject to termination with one-year's notice. During 2021, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure updated a highway corridor study that assessed all major intersections along Highway 19 from Nanoose Bay to South Nanaimo. Planned improvements for a future interchange at Superior Road would require the use of 7850 Superior Road and the removal of the current Fire Hall.
The District needs to develop plans for a public works and fire rescue facility, with the first step as a detailed design and cost estimate for the construction of the facility. Design costs are expected to be in the range of $400,000 to $475,000.