2012 – In the spring of 2010, the District of Vanderhoof undertook a Community Aquatic Facility Feasibility Study to assess the business case and engineering requirements of constructing a new indoor aquatic centre in the community.
The District retained a qualified professional consultant to develop a process to determine whether or not a project of this magnitude was currently feasible in Vanderhoof. As the need for an aquatic facility in Vanderhoof has been discussed for a number of years prior to this feasibility study, the consultant reviewed previous concepts and presented a report with recommendations to the District of Vanderhoof that provided an attractive facility design that would also be as financialy viable as possible.
The study was completed over a six month period and involved a number of key steps including: meetings with the District, Recreation Department staff and local groups; a review of background materials and demographic information; research related to trends in aquatic facility design and use; an investigation into the location of an aquatic facility in the immediate area; a review of the economics of aquatic facilities; the development of information related to capital and operating costs and their impact on local taxpayers; and the preparation and presentation of a draft and final report.
The consultants concluded that there was a need and desire for an indoor aquatic centre in the community and suggested two options for the Vanderhoof area. The Regional District of Bulkley Nechako is holding a referendum in 2012 to determine if the residents would support the municipality in moving forward with the project.
