Masters has plans for new aquatic facility if elected mayor

Regina mayoral candidate Sandra Masters plans to have a new aquatic centre built if she’s elected mayor.

Masters announced Wednesday the plan for the new facility, which is estimated to cost around $85 million. Funding would come from multiple sources.

“The government has a responsibility to stimulate the economy when it’s being challenged. That’s the role of government,” Masters said during a media conference. ” The federal government and the province have all signalled they want to invest in infrastructure programs and you can see it’s going to take at least four years.”

In Masters’ plan, the municipal, provincial and federal governments would each pay 30 per cent of the bill. The last 10 per cent would come from private investment and fundraising.

“To not plan now means for us to keep pushing this project down the road. That’s not an option to me. The economy needs to be stimulated now,” she said. “This has already waited 10 years and the value of borrowing is low. And that ability to invest from alternate sources is high.

“It seems like the perfect time to do it.”

The idea for a new aquatic centre isn’t necessarily a new one, as it was the No. 1 priority for the city in both the 2010 and 2019 recreational master plans.

There aren’t any plans yet as to where the specific location would be, aside from it being centrally located.

“I think you could draw a circle around downtown, the rail yards and the Regina exhibition site. Just draw a big old circle around that (and) that is central city location to me,” Masters said.

Masters added the Lawson Aquatic Centre would most likely be closed down if this new facility comes to fruition.

“The whole idea in terms of revitalization is to replace the existing facility. We know there are significant problems with it and we continue to renovate it. There was the air quality issue, there’s the lack of ability to have any kind of spectator sport there in terms of the national competitions,” she said.

“I would suspect that you would decommission that and go to the new facility.”

Masters’ plan would include public engagement and concept design in 2021 followed by construction in 2022, with the construction wrapping up in 2024.

The new centre would also allow enough space for future add-ons, according to Masters, including the possibility for sports training centres and other recreational facilities for the community.

The municipal election is set for Nov. 9.