Heather Wright/The Independent

Plympton-Wyoming Deputy Mayor Netty McEwen says the proposed site of a mini-arena in Camlachie is “ridiculous.”

She made the comments Aug. 28, during a discussion at Plympton-Wyoming council on the results of a survey of residents about the Huron Shores Optimists’ proposal.

The Camlachie service club first floated the idea of an outdoor ice rink – at a cost of $400,000 – in July 2021. Last year, the club laid out its formal and much larger $1.6 million plan including a 60 by 120 refrigerated concrete slab and office, changing rooms, a washroom facility, a viewing area, a confection area and it will be covered during the months of December till March.

The club wants to put the facility between the ball diamonds, museum and the cenotaph.

In a report to council, CAO Adam Sobanski said while many of the comments offered on the project were positive, “The comments did show that a number or respondents felt the proposed facility should be located more centrally in the town, possible Reece’s Corners. A few comments were made suggesting the proposed facility should be located near the existing Camlachie Athletic Association building so services can be more easily shared.”

Sobanski is working with a few members of council and members of the service club to come up with an agreement on the proposed ice pad.

But Councillor Bob Woolvett said that seemed premature, noting the comments about the location of the proposed project. “I’m just feeling that it’s jumping Ahead long before we got any real details.”
The deputy mayor agreed. “What if the location used to be changed? Shouldn’t they know that now?

“Then you’ve got the right financials, not ‘Oh, now we’re going to change the location, so that will change the financials.’”

McEwen went on to say that she has told the CAO a number of times that the location is “ridiculous” noting the accessible washrooms will be too far away for people sitting at the stands in the ball park. She added the municipality would have to build more infrastructure if the ice pad is placed near the museum and cenotaph.

“You’re going to jam it in, dwarfing that museum, the cenotaph,” McEwen said. “Put the rink where it isn’t going to interfere with everything else.”

Mayor Gary Atkinson, who sits on the liaison committee for the project, says town staff is looking at the infrastructure in the Arnold Minielly Park and whether the ice pad could be located where the club is suggesting.

Public Works officials are also looking at the entire park to see if there might be another location.
All that information is expected to come back to the committee first before council looks at the location again.

But McEwen persisted. “I think we have enough information to know we should move it,” she said.