Your questions answered

The fundraising campaign amount is currently set at $17 million dollars.  This may change, and depends on costs of materials, the campaign length, and other factors.  This money will be used to offset the total project cost of approximately $35 million. Fundraising will continue until the total necessary funds for construction have been raised.

There are lots of ways for you to support the project. You could make a donation, become a partner, or host a fundraising event.

Fundraising will continue until the total necessary funds for construction have been collected.

The current budget predicts construction inflation to 2025 and if the project is delayed construction contingencies can be allocated to the service area budget or be added to the fundraising campaign goal.

A benefiting service area that includes all property owners within Electoral Area A and the Town of Golden is already established for the CSRD’s owned and operated Golden and District Arena that would be used to accommodate all operational costs of the indoor aquatic centre.

The tax breakdown between Electoral Area A and the Town of Golden would be the same as the Golden Arena service area, where the property owners within the Town of Golden pay approximately 52% of the total costs and the property owners within Electoral Area A pay 48% of the total costs.

Currently Electoral Area A residents pay 48% of the budget for operations at the arena, library, and curling rink and 20% of the costs associated with the existing outdoor pool in Golden (owned and operated by the Town of Golden). The indoor aquatic centre would be owned by the CSRD, and the indoor aquatic centre and the arena would be housed in the same building.  It is understood that an indoor aquatic centre would be widely used by all benefiting property owners and provide region-wide economic and health benefits.

All capital assets have a useful life expectancy.  Once capital assets have been fully depreciated, they need to be replaced.  The assets in a complex structure like an aquatic facility are identified within asset categories based on those assets with similar Estimated Useful Life (EUL).  For example, the building substructure has an EUL of 75 years, whereas equipment and furnishings may have a EUL of 25 – 50 years.

Asset management and full life cycle costing will determine the annual average depreciation of all capital assets over a set period of time.  Allocating funds into a capital reserve on an annual basis is important to ensure adequate and reasonable funds are available when assets require replacement.

The aquatic centre will require a capital loan with an amortization of 30 years.  It is understood that the priority of asset management during this initial period will be the principle and interest payments required to pay off the capital loan. A $125,000 annual allocation into a capital reserve fund is planned over the first 10 years of the operating of the indoor pool.  This allocation will meet all replacement costs anticipated during this initial time period.

An operational reserve will also be established and funded on an annual basis to account for unexpected breakdowns or equipment failures.

The operating costs of the aquatic centre will be added to the costs associated with operating the CSRD-owned Golden and Area Recreation Centre (Arena).  The CSRD’s service area bylaw for the arena will be utilized to fund the aquatic centre operations. Public assent for operating costs associated with the aquatic centre is not required.

According to information obtained through the feasibility study, the net operating costs of the aquatic centre will be approximately $600,000 per year. These costs are based on the Town of Golden operating the facility on behalf of the CSRD. This equates to an annual cost per average property owner of $110 for properties in Golden and $90 for properties in Electoral Area A. The percentage allocation between Golden and Electoral Area A is approximately 53% Town of Golden and 47% Electoral Area A (same as the allocations to the Arena).

For comparison, the annual costs to operate the seasonal outdoor pool in Golden is $110 per average property owner in Golden and $25 for property owners in Electoral Area A. The costs are currently allocated 80% to the Town of Golden and 20% to Electoral Area A as identified in the Shared Services Agreement between the CSRD and the Town of Golden.

The BC Health Act requires the use of chlorine in all aquatic facilities to assist in the water disinfection process. However, there are many options for additional, secondary treatment measures like salt, ozone, or UV to reduce the amount of chlorine required to keep water quality at provincially mandated standards. Additionally, emphasis can be placed on pre-swim shower protocols, which can significantly reduce the bacteria and dirt introduced to the water and as a result reduce the level of chlorine required to clean it up. This project will carefully consider all the ways in which the reliance on chlorine can be reduced as much as possible.

The current estimate identifies sustainability measures to a Zero Carbon Building Standard (ZCB).  This standard is administered by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and provides third-party verification of the carbon impacts of buildings, with the goal of ensuring future operations as a zero emissions building.  The current program, ZCB Standard (Version 3), address the carbon balance of a building across its life cycle, including construction and operation.

The CSRD recognizes that ZCB Design requirements are increasingly required as a mandatory eligibility requirement for senior level capital grant applications.

Yes, the indoor aquatic centre will contain zero-entry features into every pool for easy access. The pool will also have a water resistance area for restoring muscle mass and flexibility.

Yes, to both. The indoor aquatic centre will be available year-round for competitive swimming and the swim club. Lessons will also be offered for people wanting to learn to swim and to improve their swimming technique.

The existing outdoor pool will remain open during construction. It will close when the new indoor aquatic facility opens in order to make way for new landscaping and parking.