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Loading ...$800,000 Racket Over New Tennis Courts
Author Editor
Author: A. Furtado, Citizen Journalist
Tennis courts may be the name of the game, but for Central Saanich taxpayers, the score could be ‘love’ when they see the price tag. According to Rosalyn Tanner, Director of Financial Services for Central Saanich, construction costs are expected to reach $798,800. This amount is more than triple the original budget set in 2006, when the council of the day allotted $262,000 for replacement costs. The initial plan was to replace the existing two tennis courts at Centennial Park in their original location. The project was deferred however, pending a consultant’s redesign of the entire Centennial Park.
When the new design was completed, the plan included moving the tennis courts to a new location across the street from Centennial Park on the corner of Wallace Drive and Hovey Road. In February 2010, the present council approved the relocation and this decision added $428,000 to the previous council’s $262,000, for a new budget of $690,000. In September 2010, funding was approved and the contract was awarded to Saanichton Developments Ltd.
The project began the following month. During excavation, the contractor discovered a buried boat trailer, a decommissioned well and other surprises that changed the scope of the work. The land required remediation and costs escalated a further $108,000. A memo from Bonnie McKenzie, Manager of Community Services, stated “…the actual requirements could not have been predicted until the work was underway.” On January 10, 2011, Council approved a final total budget of $798,800 and authorized staff to create the necessary borrowing documents.
- Photo by Ed Johnson. Panorama Courts
Councillor Ron Kubek, Parks and Facilities Committee Chair and Panorama Recreation Commission member, was asked what Council’s reasons were for relocating the tennis courts. Mr. Kubek informed Saanich Voice Online, that due to the new “Media Relations Policy” which Council unanimously passed in June, councillors are no longer allowed to speak to the media on behalf of Council and all inquiries must be directed to the Mayor. Mayor Mar responded by saying, “The biggest reasons to move them across the street was because of the tree roots and the shade.”
In addition to the three new tennis courts at Centennial Park, tennis players on the Peninsula can find an outdoor tennis court in Saanichton behind Thrifty Foods, six tennis courts in North Saanich and three tennis courts in Sidney. Panorama Recreation also has two outdoor tennis courts and four indoor tennis courts. Eric Knoester, Tennis & Racquet Coordinator for Panorama Recreation acknowledges that it is difficult to track the demand for outdoor tennis, but he believes that, “On the peninsula there is a shortage of tennis courts.”
Knoester is delighted that Central Saanich decided to take on this project and the design plans for the new courts are hanging on the wall, outside his office door. He explains that when he initially spoke to Central Saanich Council, he encouraged them to build “a legacy facility” that they could be proud of. Knoester also serves as a primary consultant for the new courts, advising Small & Rossell Landscape Architects on the design. He states that these courts are “one of the highest technically built courts in the city.”
- Photo by Ed Johnson. Court Water Feature
Adrian Woods, President of Saanichton Developments Ltd. also believes that these tennis courts are unlike any other. He explains the new courts have a “park-like setting” and offer a variety of amenities such as ponds, peripheral landscaping, a practice wall and more. “This tennis court is designed like the Taj Mahal-there is no other tennis court like it.”
While enjoying a game of tennis on the original court at Centennial Park, recreational players Michael and Carole Steele offered their opinion on the new tennis courts. “All they had to do to this court was paint the lines, which have been neglected forever.” There are some uneven surfaces, but “this just makes the game more interesting.” The Steeles have been playing tennis at Centennial Park for six years and do not recall ever waiting to use a court. “There are just not that many people using them,” says Michael. Although this project will only increase the number of tennis courts by one, overall they like the idea of an extra court, because they believe people should get outdoors and exercise more. Michael laughs, “Maybe more people will come out and play to get their tax dollars back.”
- Photo by Ed Johnson. The Steeles
At this time, the budget remains at $798,800. However, the final amount will not be known until after the project is completed, which is scheduled for July, 2011.
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7 Responses to “$800,000 Racket Over New Tennis Courts”
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Mayor Mar says we had to change the location because of “tree roots and shade”, so this administration removed all the trees, except a pathetic little “tree protection” area at the back of the courts. Has Mayor Mar ever looked at the shadows at Wimbledon!?
The best part is that all those wild balls that players inevitably hit can now be chased right across Wallace Drive, instead of into wooded areas or fields. Dumb and Dumber.
The cost over-runs are appalling and it is outrageous that the “Manager of Public Services” says: “the actual requirements could not have been predicted until the work was underway”. … Why else do these “professionals” exist unless managers give the public the costs and values of the facilities that they propose and manage. Triple over-runs are not acceptable.
Central Saanich spin and empire building is out of control.
Oh my, whatever shall we do! The District Staff are unable to estimate a job that skyrockets to over three times it’s original estimate. What utter nonsense! Should there truly have been a demand for such a facility, this would have been somewhat more palatable. However, it is fiscally irresponsible at best. How fortunate our District is to have the ability to borrow money whenever thery fail to examine the need and real costs associated with a project. Unfortunately, we as taxpayers, livinng the real world, are not so lucky. MAEASURE TWICE CUT ONCE MY FATHER-IN-LAW USED TO SAY.
Whats this I see! Mr. Kubek states that our elected officials have chosen to make themsedlves even less transparent. All inquiries and associated response to and from our municipal hall shall be the sole responsibility of Mr. Mar. HOW STRANGE! Not two weeks ago I distinctly heard Mr. Kubek on CFAX radio taking a run at Councilor Vic Derman of Saanich and the CRD Board. He did not sound anything at all like Mr. Mar. Surely his presentation was not scripted and approved by our illustrious Mayor.
Central Saanich over budget on a project?
The Brentwood Bay Business Revitalization was almost 4 times over budget, and still we don’t have the telephone poles buried . . . but the London plane trees (over 43 of them) sure bit the dust in a hurry!
Would the Saanich Voice Online people please update us on all the projects this current council has approved, please?
This is a very good point about cost over-runs. We should also take into consideration that if a tennis court budget of 262,000 can turn into 800,000 (triple), then how much will the 10 million dollar fire hall really cost Central Saanich when that project is complete (which every councilor voted for)? Then let us not forget about the additional tens of millions they will want to borrow to rebuild the police station, town hall and upgrade the old fire hall (you will surely hear more about these projects after the election). There are only 6000 homes in Central Saanich to pay for these projects through property tax dollars.
This Fall we all need to remember that being a “business man” does not automatically mean you are more fiscally responsible then the average citizen who learns how to budget every month to pay for their groceries. Central Saanich had ZERO debt three years ago. Look at what debt is doing to the US right now-more debt means more vulnerability, because now you have to approve projects you may ethically disagree with in order to service that debt.
Voters should keep this in mind when we have an election this Fall. We the people, may not be able to afford to live in our own homes for much longer, if we continue down this path of rapid unsustainable growth. We need more then 30% voter turn out this year to turn this around-please vote this Fall and remind everyone else to vote as well.
Excellent comments. The biggest problem is that we need responsible and articulate candidates who have a vision, are willing to support the efforts that the community has put into Community Plans and have a vision for a sustainable region. We do not need high profile “faces”.
I have never been a supporter of amalgamation, but I would like to see some studies about C.S. amalgamating with Saanich. We both have municipal police forces, we would have a professional fire service, most of the municipal bureaucracy would be absorbed and limit the empire building. Saanich has defined and maintained urban containment boundaries for 40 years, we could be leaders in reducing the number of municipalities in the CRD – 13 is probably too many, we could reduce the number to 11. I would like to look at it.
Just food for thought
I think the rule of unintended consequences is reason enough to stop complaining about every picayune issue you can think of. The blatant narcissism of our local complainers making every decision a conspiracy against democracy if you disagree. Now, …by complaining…Instead of a beautiful CO-OP, you’ll have a giant tent CO-OP on native lands and a 2 million dollar bill to improve the road with no tax income for CS. Since…making accusations about everything — and people listening to obvious baloney — business is forced to build on first nation land to avoid taxes and decades old plans to “preserve” our community. Now we’re getting a Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Costco on native lands east of the highway. Thanks for all the help preserving Central Saanich….Is this what you envisioned?
The Official Community Plan is what was “envisioned” for Central Saanich. None of these big box projects that you mention are part of that plan for our rural community. Building commercial buildings outside the Urban Containment Boundary is also not part of our vision. That is why the CRD had problems with the Co-Op application. The vision that you have Karla, is the vision of Langford and everyone who shares that vision is welcome to move there (goodness knows they have enough homes to accommodate…). Moving there may be a more sensible idea, rather then trying to make CS something that it does not want to be.