Money for Bayplex approved
CBRM budget brings good news and bad news
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality budget brought good and bad news to east division.
“The budget was a tough one, there was no money for roads however I’m happy the Bayplex project has the approval of council,” said Dist. 10 Coun. Darren Bruckschwaiger.
“That was our plan from the beginning and I felt confident … we were going to get the support of council.”
He admits he was surprised by the close budget vote of 7-6 in favour.
“I was shocked by that, but at the end of the day we do have the majority of the support and it will proceed.”
Bruckschwaiger said the Bayplex repairs are budgeted for $9 million over two years — cost shared by the three levels of government, adding this year the CBRM’s share is $1.5 million, based on the federal and provincial governments also committing $1.5 million each.
“This is all contingent on federal and provincial approval and
I’ve had assurances from (MLA) Geoff MacLellan and (MP) Rodger Cuzner and I’m sure the money will be forthcoming.”
Bruckschwaiger said work will begin in April with a soft opening date predicted for August 2019 and the official opening set for September 2019.
As well he said the budget included tenders for the demolition of the former Glace Bay post office. Tenders close on March 15 and the site will become home to the new police station.
Other good news includes a new water tank to be installed on Main Street in Glace Bay at
a cost of $2.2 million.
“People knew the integrity wasn’t good and we could only fill the water so high.”
Bruckschwaiger said this will make a difference for people who experience issues with water pressure.
“Although it was a hard budget and there wasn’t enough money for streets and all that, these projects in east division are important.”
Dist. 9 Coun. George MacDonald was equally happy about the approval of the Bayplex project.
“For me the word is ‘relief.’ We are excited about it but it’s a relief because it was a long hard road. Now we are looking at the (building) opening in September 2019, only a little more than a year away.”
A member of the Bayplex board in the early 2000s, MacDonald said last year the board disbanded and the CBRM has taken over the building which will mean the municipality will be responsible for its upkeep.
MacDonald said people are being patient, using other facilities and hoping the Bayplex will reopen.
“Now it is coming so that’s great.”
Although MacDonald said there was some controversy surrounding the budget vote, he doesn’t believe anyone was against the Bayplex project but rather there was awareness that money was needed for infrastructure, especially the “horrible roads.”
“There wasn’t anyone around the table questioning the need for the Bayplex, they questioned whether money set aside for the Bayplex could be used on roads. That’s where the debate came from.”