Provincial Government Proposes Extended Payment Terms of $10 million Commitment to Civic Centre Project

The Civic Centre Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the Province of Nova Scotia are currently in the process of working out the details of the payment schedule for the Province’s $10 Million commitment to the project.  Recently, the project was notified of the Province’s request to extend their payment period until 2017 although the original agreement stated that full payment would be completed by November, 2012 in line with the facilities anticipated opening.

Civic Centre project co-chair Bob Taylor notes “we were certainly surprised by the Province’s position to extend their payment period.  The Project Steering Committee immediately took action, promptly responded to the request asking the province to re-consider and revert back to the payment schedule of the original agreement and we are currently in the process of attempting to finalize the details.”

 The Civic Centre, expected to open fall 2012, is expected to include a 2700 seat event stadium, NHL sized ice surface, walking/jogging track, aquatic centre, fitness centre, multi-purpose/professional space, community meeting space, climbing wall and a number of other amenities to meet the needs of Central Nova Scotia residents. 

“There are obvious financial implications associated with extending the payment period” says Greg MacArthur, project co-chair. “We as a committee have identified these implications and are taking the required steps to move forward.  The last thing we want to do it reduce the space programming, we are committed to building to the budget delivered in November, 2009 and we have to respect that” adds MacArthur. 

To date, funding from municipal, provincial and federal governments has totalled $ 44 Million.  A $5 million community capital campaign will top off the funds required for the proposed health and wellness facility that is expected to open in fall, 2012.