Cambridge sports multiplex could still go on Conestoga lands: Councillor

It is entirely possible Cambridge city council will still go ahead with placing a proposed sports multiplex on lands owned by Conestoga College, despite a task force considering 30 other location options.

• CBC Coverage of the Cambridge Multiplex project

"Definitely Conestoga will be on the list," Coun. Donna Reid told CBC KW's The Morning Edition's host Craig Norris Monday. "That's a possibility, same as any of the others are a possibility."

Earlier this year, the city was ready to move ahead and build the multiplex on lands near Conestoga College. But after public outcry, the council agreed to strike a task force to look into other locations.

In total, the task force is now considering 30 locations. The task force will be doing site visits this week.

"Any location that anyone anywhere said was a possibility, we added to the list. So we didn't want to leave anybody out, we didn't want to leave any possibility out," Reid said.

Decision possible in January

A decision by council on the final location of the multiplex isn't expected until, at the earliest, January.

Reid admitted the multiplex may not be ready in time if this area wins its bid to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

But she also worries the whole project could fall apart.

• Four local cities mulling bid for 2021 Canada Summer Games
• Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig steps down from multiplex committee
• Cambridge defers decision on sports multiplex location until fall

"There is that fear the longer we wait, the more expensive it becomes and whether or not we're going to be able to find a place that is satisfactory to enough people and the cost is something that we can bear. My fear is that it won't happen and it will get deferred and we won't have a multiplex," Reid said.

Public input needed

So much of the timeline for the project rests with the decision on the location, Reid said.

"Depending on what site is chosen, what does that site need? With Conestoga, of course, a lot of the studies are done and completed and we could move ahead. If we choose a new site, then we'd have to do all the studies," she said.

My fear is that it won't happen and it will get deferred and we won't have a multiplex.- CambridgeCoun. Donna Reid

Recently, a group asked council to make changes to the facility itself and include a 50 m pool. A larger pool could attract high caliber competitions and help local athletes train.

But Reid said it's too soon for council to decide that.

Right now, the focus has to be on what people want and need.

"There have been so many people who have just said, 'Say no to Conestoga, just say no to Conestoga.' But that's not really helping us," Reid said.

"We need the positiveness to come in here, we need people to tell us more where they think it should be, what they're willing to pay for it, how this can happen, do they care whether it doesn't happen now, do they care if it's 10 years from now we need all of that kind of information."