According to City of Powell River officials, the north harbour project is on budget and on time. At the May 5 committee-of-the-whole meeting, officials addressed rumours in the community that there were “massive cost overruns.”
Richard Stogre, manager of engineering services, said the project had a budget of about $7.5 million. “We have encumbered to date $6.9 million, which makes up commitments for the civil works contract and the purchase of the floats,” he said. “We believe we are approximately 70 per cent through the project and we feel confident at this moment that we’ll bring it in within that budget.”
Councillor Maggie Hathaway asked him if he could address the rumours that were flying around the community. “I have no idea,” he said. “I was as surprised as everybody else. There’s no substance to it that I can see at this moment.”
Stan Westby, chief administrative officer, said after he heard about the rumours he went down to the engineering department. Although Stogre was away on holiday, Westby talked to Frank D’Angio, engineering technologist. “His staff prepared a spreadsheet for me, which was remarkable in its depth and how well the project was being managed,” he said. “I looked at that and was just completely reassured that it was well managed, on budget and on time.”
The city is targeting June 13 as the completion date.
