The municipality of Summerland will apply for a grant of up to $3 million to retrofit the Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre.

Municipal staff will prepare a budget amendment to accommodate the $25,000 required to submit the application.

The grant application is through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Grant program.

The application window is between Sept. 4 and Oct. 16, and the maximum award amount is $25 million of eligible costs for large retrofits and new builds.

Earlier, the municipality had applied for $25 million towards the replacement of its aging aquatic centre.

The referendum for the replacement was held in the fall of 2023, for borrowing of up to $50 million for a new facility. At the time of the referendum, the status of the grant application was not known and the borrowing referendum was defeated. Later, when the federal government grant decision was made, Summerland had not been selected for funding.

In a report to council, Lori Mullin, director of community services for Summerland, said the facility remains at the end of its useful life. 

The building opened in the spring of 1976 and has been expanded twice since.

Repairs are occurring on the roof and other elements of the structure and operations are being examined.

鈥淎ny scenario, whether a new build, reduced scope build, a retrofit or ongoing emergency repairs, will involve some public monies,鈥� Mullin said in her report.

Graham Statt, chief administrative officer for Summerland, said repairs to the facility have been costly. When the roof was repaired following the failed referendum, the final cost came in at $340,000, considerably higher than earlier estimates of $100,000 for this work.

Coun. Doug Patan said money is needed to maintain the existing facility.

鈥淚f we don鈥檛 spend the money, we won鈥檛 have a pool,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have some very strong repair and maintenance issues that we have to deal with.鈥�

Coun. Richard Barkwill said spending money on retrofits to the existing building would not prevent the municipality from later constructing a new pool. However, even under a best-case scenario, he said a new pool would not be completed until at least 2030.

Other members of council said Summerland will need a pool to replace its existing facility.

Coun. Janet Peake said the pool will be needed as people move into Summerland.

鈥淲e see our community growing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think we have a very good chance with a $25 million grant.鈥�

Coun. Erin Trainer said grant funding will be needed to replace the existing pool.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford to build infrastructure like this on our own,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have to have money from the province and federal government.鈥�

In the end, council chose to apply for up to $3 million in funding to retrofit the facility, rather than applying for funding for a new facility.

However, some members of council supported the decision.

Trainer said applying for the lower amount means giving up the opportunity to apply for a larger project. 鈥淚 think this is short-term thinking,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 tend to agree with you,鈥� said Mayor Doug Holmes. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 throwing good money after bad.鈥�