A long-awaited recreation centre for the beleaguered community of Burns Lake has advanced a major step as the provincial government committed $2.4 million to the project this week.
The centre had been on the town's books for 15 years but never quite reached the approval stage until now, Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said, primarily because of the cost, which will add up to $3 million once funding from other sources is included.
However, the government's tune changed when the Jan. 20 explosion and fire knocked out Babine Forest Products.
At 250 workers, it was the main employer in the town of 3,600 located 226 kilometres west of Prince George.
"When the premier came out, she wanted to help out the community in any way she could," Rustad said. "It wasn't able to fit within any existing program we had so we worked closely with the finance minister to try to find a way to make it happen and I'm very pleased that we were able to deliver this to the community after 15 years of them trying to move this project forward."
The centre will cover 10,000 square feet, connect the town's curling rink and ice arena, and hold squash courts, exercise equipment, a multipurpose area, children's play area, a climbing wall and a physiotherapy clinic.
"It's going to be a great addition to be able to try and retain workers in the area as well as attract new workers, in hopes of course of a rebuild of
Hampton," Rustad said.
Babine is owned by Oregon-based Hampton Affiliates.
Construction is expected to begin by October and be completed before 2015, although Rustad said it could start sooner and be completed more quickly.
Of the remaining $600,000, the Village of Burns Lake will cover $392,000, the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako $113,000, the Northern Development Initiative Trust $60,000 and the Nechako-Kitimat Development Fund Society $40,000.
The funding was announced
Wednesday.
Another announcement in Burns Lake, this time related to health care, will be made next Thursday and a plan should be in place by the end of this month for supplying enough timber to make rebuilding a new sawmill feasible.
