Guelph council adds $35.5M to south-end community centre budget

City councillors in Guelph have approved an additional $35.5 million dollars for a new south-end community centre, bringing the total cost of the project to$115.5 million.

The city says itexpectsconstruction will get underway this fall with a planned opening date in late 2026.

The facility proposesto include twin ice pads, aquatic centre, gym, walking track and multi-purpose rooms. It will be located on city-owned lands located south of Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School on Poppy Drive, near existing baseball diamonds, splash pad and park.

The need for a community centre in Guelph's growing south end was raised in a 2014 recreation facility needs assessment report. In June of that year, a staff report said the estimated cost to build the centre was just over $59 million, which included a 20 per cent contingency allowance "to cover inflation in both labour and materials cost ... as well a other project unknowns."

Jayne Holmes, the city's deputy chief administrative officer of infrastructure, development and enterprise services, said in a release that the project is an "important investment for our community's future."

The city says taxes will fund $1.8 million of the increased cost while the rest of the $35.5 million will be covered by development charges.