Details in multiplex debate favour college site

Make a decision already, Cambridge council!

The longer it takes for you to decide the next step for the city’s $80million sports multiplex, the worse it gets. Delays are costly and disappointing. But councillors seem to have lost focus.

They had a list of preferred sites prepared by a task force. Now, they’re thinking about new sites not on that list. They’re musing about a public-private partnership. They’re wondering how it would be if they broke up the amenities; having the ice pads in one location, the gyms and pools somewhere else.

I wish I was joking about this, but one of the options they are considering is cancelling all the work that’s been done to date and starting fresh in 2018. Argh! There was a time when we expected the new building would open in 2018. Now the opening date is more likely to be 2022. That is very unfair to Cambridge residents who are making do with outdated facilities.

These delays are happening because no one site is perfect, and the debate is highly charged.

Several sites identified by the task force have been used in the past for industry or landfill, and would require costly delays for cleanup of contaminated soil and water. One site isn’t even available, because the owner has other plans for the land.

Another is right across the street from the YMCA’s own fitness centre on Hespeler Road. If a sportsplex was built there, it would undermine an important non-profit partner. It would also concentrate amenities in one location instead of spreading them around the city, which makes no sense.

And then there’s Conestoga College, which offers an inexpensive 50-year lease on clean land on its Fountain Street campus, near the border with Kitchener.

Many Cambridge residents strongly object to having the multiplex there, because it’s not central. Some also fear the facilities would be used by Kitchener residents.

You can see why Cambridge councillors would want to take a break from the fray. But they shouldn’t delay any longer.

An interesting perspective that may help break the deadlock is contained in the report that was prepared for councillors at their June 27 meeting.

Despite the long, heated debate about the multiplex, one really important sector hasn’t been heard from much.

That’s the organized sports groups, such as minor hockey, ringette and competitive swimming.

Shouldn’t their opinions be considered? City administrators thought so, so they set up a meeting in May to hear their views.

Here is what these groups agree on:

<arrow> They want one multi-purpose facility with everything in it.

<arrow> They want it built as soon as possible, with no further delays.

<arrow> They don’t really care where in the city the multiplex would be located, because they’re used to travelling to venues.

<arrow> They think the city should pick the cheapest location to buy and develop, so that the maximum amount of financial resources can be invested in the actual facility.

Together, these groups will probably be the heaviest users of the multiplex.

Their every request would be met if the city made that deal with Conestoga College.

Think it over, councillors.