Dartmouth 4-rink complex one step closer to reality

Halifax regional council is moving to the final stage of approval for a new four-pad ice surface facility in Dartmouth, giving the president of the Central Minor Hockey Federation 40 million reasons to smile.

The new structure would be built on land between the Burnside Industrial Park and Dartmouth Crossing.

"From a facility perspective in Dartmouth this is long overdue," said Sean McKenna.

"Folks in Dartmouth over the last few years, they've been doing a lot just to get their kids to rinks in the winter time."

Problems with aging arenas in Dartmouth forced Dartmouth Minor Hockey to move to out of area rinks for practices and games.

The new $40 million facility would be open in time for the 2017-18 hockey season.

McKenna said it would have much the same look and feel as the BMO Centre in Bedford, which cost the same amount of money to build.

The new structure would be built next to the new artificial turf facility already in place and would have more than 500 parking spots.

New change rooms for the outdoor facility would also be part of the new ice pad construction.

"Now you're really going to have a nice facility there," McKenna said.

"You know they talk about a stadium, this might not be a stadium but now you have a mini sports village which I think is kind of cool for Dartmouth."

Once the new complex is built, three older hockey arenas in the Halifax area would then be deemed surplus and could be sold.

Those arenas include the LeBrun Arena in Bedford as well as the Gray Arena and Bowles Arena in Dartmouth.

Final approval of the 2016-17 capital plan is expected to happen in February after the operating budgets for various municipal departments are debated.