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Orillia rinks 'on track' to be back before the New Year

'Work to install the rental refrigeration equipment is complete, and now the focus is on rebuilding both ice surfaces at Rotary Place. That work is progressing well,' staffer says
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City staff estimate Rotary Place will be able to offer limited ice time by the end of December, with both ice pads expected to be fully operational by early January.

With repair work at Rotary Place rolling out quickly, both of the arena’s ice pads should be up and running by the beginning of January, city staff estimate.

When council approved $425,000 for a temporary refrigeration system on Dec. 1, staff originally estimated they would have the blue ice pad up and running in the first week of January, with the green ice pad reopening the following week.

However, work has taken place faster than expected.

“Work to install the rental refrigeration equipment is complete, and now the focus is on rebuilding both ice surfaces at Rotary Place. That work is progressing well and on track,” said Renee Recoskie, the city’s manager of property and environmental sustainability.

Limited booking opportunities will be available before December is through, Recoskie said.

“Based on progress to date and anticipated timing, the blue pad ice surface will have limited booking availability to user groups on Dec. 28, 29 and 30, 2022. Recreation and Youth Services is contacting ice user groups directly with this information,” Recoskie said. 

“Provided no unforeseen circumstances arise, both the green ice pad and blue ice pad surfaces will be fully open and available to user groups and the public as of Jan. 2, 2023.”

The city’s user groups have been without Rotary Place ice time since early October, when issues with a heat exchanger shuttered the arena, and issues continued when a Legionella outbreak traced to the arena’s cooling tower put the ice pads out of commission again.

In an effort to prevent future Legionella outbreaks, as well as to keep user groups on the ice, city council approved a $1.9 million fix for Rotary Place on Dec. 7, opting for an air-cooled chiller system that prevents the growth of the waterborne Legionella bacteria.

The city has entered into an agreement for up to 18 months for the temporary cooling system currently being installed, as staff work on bringing the permanent cooling system to Rotary Place.

 


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Greg McGrath-Goudie

About the Author: Greg McGrath-Goudie

Greg has been with Village Media since 2021, where he has worked as an LJI reporter for CollingwoodToday, and now as a city hall/general assignment reporter for OrilliaMatters
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