$17M Aurora operations centre approved

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 20, 2014
Teresa Latchford

Aurora council gave the green light to construct a new $17-million joint operations centre to keep up with the service demands of the growing community.

Following a lengthy discussion at Tuesday’s council meeting about the cost and need for the new facility to service a population expected to hit 70,000 by 2031, the project was approved.

“There have been no changes to the current building in well over 30 years,” Councillor Michael Thompson said. “We need to act today to respond to the need and to maintain service levels.”

Councillor Evelyn Buck didn’t dispute the need for the facility, but wasn’t sure the design was the most cost-efficient.

The LEED gold standard project will be financed through development charges and the sale of town lands, rather than through municipal property taxes.

The centre will be built at 229 Industrial Pkwy. N. and will house public works and parks services including drinking water, wastewater, parks and trees, road maintenance and snow removal.

It will replace the existing depot on Scanlon Court.

The new facility will feature a full back-up power system that will allow the town to continue operations during inclement weather or emergencies, additional outdoor storage for snow and ice removal, indoor storage for vehicles and greenhouse facilities.