Track cost still a mystery

The final cost of the Greater Vernon Athletics Park is expected to be revealed next month.

“We have been working with the general contractor to complete a couple of minor deficiencies before we reported out on the final cost of the project,” Stephen Banmen, the North Okanagan Regional District's finance manager said this week.

Banmen said either NORD's board of directors or the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee would be given the final cost in April.

The athletics facility, situated beside Vernon's Okanagan College campus, opened last September.

It was budgeted at $7.5 million. An additional $340,000 was reported to have been taken out of reserves due to cost overruns, but the final tally is not yet known.

“We should have known that a long time ago,” said Barry Beardsell, former Vernon city councillor and well-known financial watchdog. “What we do know is they cut down the size of the building (housing change rooms) significantly. The building costs are out of this world compared to the estimates they had originally.”

One thing is certain, and that is the track is a hit and already fully booked by sports groups in the Greater Vernon area, including the Vernon Triple A track and field club and soccer groups, said Tannis Nelson, NORD's community development co-ordinator.

“We're seeing the park highly used,” said Nelson. “We already have bookings from the school district for their zone and district track meet, which is exciting. I know they have expressed enthusiasm at not having to drag out their equipment.”

The track helped the region's bid for the 55+ BC Games, which will take place in Vernon in September 2017.

“That facility really was the crux of why we were successful in our bid to host those Games."

Photo: Kate Bouey