A proposal to install artificial turf at the Derby Community Centre looks to be dead.
Georgian Bluffs councillors passed a motion during Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting to inform Ontario Sports Development the township is not interested in pursuing an agreement for use of the facility.
Council still needs to finalize the decision at its meeting next week.
Earlier this year, the township was presented a public-private proposal that would have involved Ontario Sports Development — an affiliate of Brampton North Soccer — investing in the installation of artificial turf and operating the facility for at least a decade, while Georgian Bluffs would have retained ownership of the Derby Community Centre and responsibility of capital costs.
But Georgian Bluffs councillors decided yesterday they have no interest in pursuing this. They cited concerns about the financial risks for the municipality and the displacement of current users such as Grey Bruce Roller Derby.
A report by the township’s CAO Niall Lobley prepared earlier this year estimated the Derby Community Centre — a former arena in Kilsyth built in 1967 — would require about $1.5-million in improvements over the next 10 years.
“One of my biggest concerns would be we have no idea what capital costs would be, if we put that volume of usage proposed to the facility,” Georgian Bluffs Mayor Sue Carleton says.
The township conducted an engagement process for the artificial turf proposal and a survey garnered more than 450 responses. It produced some contradictory results. About sixty-two per cent of respondents were supportive of the proposal, but at the same time only 35 per cent were comfortable with a private company operating the facility.
Lobley told Georgian Bluffs councillors Wednesday less than half of the people who completed the survey were actually from Georgian Bluffs.
“That’s not necessarily surprising for a facility like this,” Lobley explains. “When (Ontario Sports Development) approached us, they did approach us on the basis of a regional destination. We don’t have any junior sports leagues or sports clubs currently operating in the township. Anyone playing from the township will be playing outside the township. They’ll be playing with individuals coming from different communities.”
Martin Sasek of Ontario Sports Development says the decision is disappointing, but the organization still plans to pursue other opportunities for an indoor turf facility in the Owen Sound area.
“We will explore other potential sites,” Sasek says. “Because the area needs a turf facility.”
