INNISFAIL – The estimated cost to upgrade the antiquated and closed Innisfail Heliport has suddenly doubled.
Shocked members of council were told at a special meeting on May 17 that the original estimated cost of $450,000 to upgrade the 23-year-old facility across from the Innisfail Health Centre is now pegged at nearly $900,000.
“It is a significant difference from what we originally anticipated the cost to be,” Steven Kennedy, the town’s director of operational services, told council.
However, despite the pricing shock, council in the end voted unanimously in favour of moving ahead to procurement to see if competitive bidding on a construction contract might bring the overall price down. That process is expected to take at least a month.
In the meantime, administration is being tasked to explore all provincial and federal grant funding opportunities, and reach out to the community to see if there is a public appetite to commit to a fundraising drive.
“It was quite a shock to the system to have double the price like that. They are not hardline numbers yet but they’re estimates substantially more than the initial ones,” said Town of Innisfail Mayor Jim Romane, adding the bad news does not put the project in jeopardy, as council is still in favour of the project.
“It hasn’t killed the project by any means. We have to come up with some creative financing and appeal back to the community. How bad do you want this thing?"
“Golly, it just may prolong the project for a year or six months,” he added. "I would like to think not but we are not about to all of a sudden pull out another half million dollars out of the budget, which is already complete.”
Kennedy delivered the bad news to council through a detailed report, based on budget estimates from GroundEffect Aerodrome Consulting, a Red Deer company hired by the town.
The report showed a site development total budget cost of $794,686. In addition, there was a second budget of $102,630 for engineering and material testing, bringing the total estimated cost to $897,316.
Council was reminded that $450,000 had been put in the General Capital Reserve for the project in 2020 but the additional $450,000 would reduce that reserve to a value of only $635,000.
Kennedy said a big reason for the significant heliport project budget jump was the requirement to replace the current site’s asphalt with a concrete pad to support the new Airbus H145 helicopters.
He said the site also needs a new retaining wall, and the current northside sidewalk must be replaced to the southside.
There will be additional costs for electrical and lighting requirements, as standards have changed, he said.
The next step for council, if members were comfortable, is to proceed with procurement, the process to get competitive bids for the contract and bring back council a recommended award, he said.
“Hopefully we have some really good pricing coming out. At that time, we can decide to either proceed with construction or not, or we look at other steps,” said Kennedy.
Coun. Don Harrison wanted to know if there had been any more discussions on community fundraising, while Coun. Jean Barclay asked if there were any federal or provincial grants available for heliport upgrades.
“I think that’s rather important information considering the cost has doubled,” said Barclay, advancing the suggestion to move forward to get specific cost pricing while exploring grant opportunities at the same time.
“I am just wondering what are the next steps. Either we quash it or we keep moving forward with it.”
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, said if procurement proceeds on actual pricing based on current market conditions the town would be able to make informed decisions based on the best information.
“I would say, ‘do not stop here’. I’d say, ‘go to that next step’, know that this is going to be quite a bit more than anticipated,” said Becker. “Administration will look at potential grant opportunities. Council can then provide direction on your wish to proceed in getting community funding mobilized.”
The heliport’s operations were suspended last June for at least a year as it was not in compliance with numerous Transport Canada regulations.
A risk assessment of the heliport identified numerous deficiencies, including the need for resurfacing, new fencing, lighting and navigation markers.
It was also determined there was risks with the facility's proximity to major sports and recreational spaces, as well as the aquatic centre’s parking lot, and nearby public roads.
Since the heliport’s closure, the town has moved air ambulance service outside the town to Big Bend Airport.
During subsequent online community engagements with the public and stakeholders, the idea was advanced at looking at alternative heliport sites in the community.
But on Feb. 22, town council agreed in “principle” to move forward with the rehabilitation of the heliport at its current location across from the Innisfail Health Centre.
