The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District is officially on board with the idea of a regional aquatic centre, ACRD chief administrative officer Douglas Holmes announced on Friday, Aug. 17.
The ACRD board has asked staff to work with City of Port Alberni staff and develop a regional action plan for replacing Echo 67 Pool with a new aquatic centre, meaning the ACRD will take the lead.
“Everybody agreed at the time to get together with the community and say ‘what do we think the needs are” for an aquatic centre. “What are the appetites financially as well?”
Over two recent mornings elected and appointed officials from the Alberni Valley, including First Nations, electoral areas and the city, gathered to talk about the future of facilities-based aquatic recreation. “The outcome was a strong interest to continue working collectively,” Holmes said.
READ MORE: ACRD dives into pool discussions
City CAO Tim Pley wrote a letter to the ACRD in July 2017 asking chair John Jack and the board to take the lead in looking at the potential for development of a new aquatic centre on a regional basis.