The proposed Northern Water Sports Centre would bring in almost $1 million worth of visitor revenue alone in its first year, and will allow the city to attract thousands of athletes to the area.
That message was delivered to city council at the Sept. 21 policy meeting by Thomas Merritt, steering committee member for the proposed facility. The $7-million 16,000-square-foot facility on Ramsey Lake would bring competitive athletes from around the country to compete in a variety of large-scale, water-related events. The committee estimates a $13.9-million economic impact over five years.
Competitions would be three- to four-day events where athletes would show up early to train, and it would be a great way to profile Sudbury to the rest of Canada, Merritt explained in the update he provided of efforts to raise money for the project.
Partners in the project are the Sudbury Canoe Club, the Sudbury Rowing Club, the Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival and the City of Greater Sudbury. The clubs are limited by the current facility, and its location restricts access to its programs. Over the years, 2,000 people participated in various water sports, and the plan is to keep building on that through the new Northern Water Sports Centre. Merritt said the number of participants could double and the new centre could offer recreational and competitive programs. “We could introduce new programs and expand current programs,” he told councillors.
To date, the steering committee has secured $2.5 million in funding, with $500,000 from the city and $1 million from both the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and Xstrata. A grant application has been submitted to FedNor, and the steering committee is seeking an additional $1 million through NOHFC.
The feasibility study was completed in 2007, and a building was designed last year. Merritt said the goal is to have the funds in place by the winter, and construction of the Centre would begin shortly afterwards. If everything falls into place, the clubs could move into their new digs by fall of 2012.
The purpose of the update, he added, was to encourage council to keep the centre as a priority going forward.
“The past 12 months have been busy, and we’re actively pursuing funding sources,” Merritt said. “We want to ensure there is no risk in the project, so we hired consultants to confirm that these numbers are real and won’t change when it comes time to build the facility.”
Ward 11 Coun. Terry Kett said the city has clearly demonstrated its commitment to the project through $500,000 in funding and by giving the steering committee the land for free.
Ward 1 Coun. Joe Cimino said the centre is a community-based project, and it will be a building from which “our youth and entire community will benefit.”
Ward 4 Coun. Evelyn Dutrisac said only good things can come from these types of programs that encourage youth to get active.
“Ramsey Lake is a treasure, and it’s a highly used area of the city,” Dutrisac said.
Mayor Marianne Matichuk said the Northern Water Sports Centre has “great potential, especially with winter sports, because there is nothing like that right now.”
- Posted by Laurel Myers
