Sign up for the northeastNOW newsletter

Wynyard recreation complex continues to take shape

Dec 8, 2018 | 7:00 AM

Progress continues on the new recreation complex in Wynyard.

Chief Administrative Officer Jason Chorneyko told northeastNOW the project remains on schedule, give or take a week or so.

“The building is enclosed, and if it’s not enclosed by metal cladding, the places that are open are tarped,” Chorneyko said. “They still have a lot of fill to take in, that’s why they don’t have the entire arena enclosed, and the front glass is supposed to be in I believe next week or the week after, so that will be fully enclosed at the entrance side instead of just having tarps there.”

There is also some siding on the building and the mezzanine level is taking shape.

The arena will replace the current rink, which is almost 70 years old.

“Our old arena has a very limited lifespan remaining,” Chorneyko said. “It was built in 1950, it’s the old arch-wood style arena. It’s going to be in year 69 when it’s still in operation, so we got our money’s worth out of that arena.”

Chorneyko said building a new arena is expensive, but it was necessary.

“As I like to say, it’s not the Taj Mahal by any stretch, but it’s going to be a nice arena,” Chorneyko said. “The price tag right now is right in the $10,000,000 mark.”

But the project isn’t just about the arena.

“To try to get full use out of (the facility) the golf club is going to move in there, and that will be their clubhouse as well,” Chorneyko said. “As well, it will be a canteen and dressing room area for the sports grounds for ball teams and that, so we’re hoping to get year-round usage out of the facility.”

Power is hooked up, and natural gas is trenched in, said Chorneyko.

The project is slated to be complete in late May or early June.