Record voter turnout expected for Nanaimo’s $80M referendum
After a record-breaking turnout at advance polls, Nanaimo residents vote in a referendum Saturday on a proposal to borrow $80 million for an events centre and arena.
The facility would be on cityowned waterfront property and provide up to 5,700 seats for hockey and at least 7,100 for concerts. Western Hockey League officials have committed to establishing a team in Nanaimo if the borrowing is approved.
The centre’s tentative timeline calls for a fall start to construction and an official opening in September 2019, said Kim Fowler, the project co-ordinator and Nanaimo’s chief sustainability officer.
The turnout at advance polls was a record-breaker with more than 4,000 casting ballots, topping the previous high for Nanaimo of 2,262 set in advance polling for the 2014 municipal election.
Fowler said she is hopeful for another good showing from voters on Saturday. “We want people to come out and vote and make an informed choice.”
Fowler said the centre would take up about 1.2 hectares of a 10.8-hectare site, including water lots, that the city has owned for four years. “It’s vacant industrial land,” she said. “It’s in what we consider our downtown, so the heart of our city.”
The centre would be much more than an arena, Fowler said.
“It’s a multipurpose space for arts and culture. We’re hoping to have an outdoor plaza/community space.”
It would also be linked to a larger concept. “This is supposed to anchor our sports and entertainment district and be part of our revitalization of the waterfront,” Fowler said.
Nanaimo Coun. Bill Yoachim said he is prepared for whatever voters decide.
“First and foremost, however the people of Nanaimo vote, I’m going to respect,” he said. “If it passes, I think the events centre would be a good stimulus for the development of the grounds.”
Don Bonner, a member of a group calling for a “no” vote, said he expects a good turnout Saturday because the centre “is quite a contentious issue.”
“We have a core group of about 15 people and we have probably close to 100 volunteers,” he said. “It’s quite an active group that got up and running in a very short period of time.”
Bonner said there are better uses for waterfront land than an arena. “An arena’s only going to be used mainly during the night, and will only be used a couple of nights a week.”
A former plan for the area called for commercial space, a Granville Island-style market and a walkway, he said.
Bonner said his group does not oppose the idea of building an events centre, just the one that is being presented. “I think, in principle, everybody said an events centre would be a good idea for Nanaimo.”
Fowler said spending on the project would be about $70 million for the building and $10 million to service the land. “We have to put a water line in, we’re putting a roundabout in, we’re moving a sewer line, environmental remediation, that sort of thing.”
Poll locations are listed at nanaimo.ca. All polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except for the Protection Island Fire Hall, open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The referendum comes during some tough times for Nanaimo council, including the municipality seeking damages against Mayor Bill McKay for allegedly giving confidential information to a former municipal employee. As well, a group of 10 residents filed a B.C. Supreme Court petition to have him disqualified from office for alleged conflict in dealings with Clipper Navigation Inc.