Cost of portable fire station jumps to $6.9M

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This article was published 07/09/2023 (789 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The cost of a long-awaited portable fire paramedic station that’s expected to reduce wait times in Waverley West has ballooned, while the city no longer has a target date to add a permanent station for the massive neighbourhood.

The modular station, which is slated to help reduce lengthy emergency wait times until a permanent one can be built, is now expected to cost $6.9 million, about $2.7 million more than city council had expected, according to a new city staff report.

The report also states the timeline for when a $12.1-million permanent station will be built in the area, which was previously expected to open in 2025, is “presently unknown.”

“The big uncertainty for us at the permanent site at the South Winnipeg Rec Campus is the site servicing. We were given some indication that water, sewer and power and then the road network would be in, I believe it was last spring, but we still don’t have a definitive timeline on that from the developer. As a result, it’s very difficult for us to move forward… even with a rough schedule, until we’ve got that certainty,” said Tom Wallace, deputy chief of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, in an interview Thursday.

Wallace said the temporary station, which he expects would arrive at 110 Eaglewood Dr. in fall 2024, is especially important to improve emergency response times as plans for a permanent one continue.

“This temporary station would have been good to put in yesterday,” he said.

However, Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes, who has advocated for more fire paramedic service in her ward, said she believes land servicing is well underway for the permanent station. Lukes said the developer told her sewer and water connections are in place and a road is now being paved, with further utilities expected by late fall.

“It’s getting built, it’s designed, we just want to do it in the most cost-effective manner,” she said.

Lukes plans to support the cost hike for the modular station, arguing the price increase is an unfortunate reality of market conditions.

“We need a fire hall… Clearly everything that’s coming in for construction (lately) is over budget,” said Lukes.

The report says the sole responsive bid for the modular station contract came in significantly higher than the approved budget, sparking the request to approve a cost overrun.

“Inflated construction costs within the local market, which are attributable to supply-chain disruption and increases in material costs worldwide, have contributed to the cost escalation,” the report notes.

The report stresses there’s an immediate need to improve Waverley West fire and rescue service, noting area response times have long exceeded national guidelines.

After addressing that issue, the portable unit will be used to supplement service throughout the city, should a fire paramedic station fail or another WFPS construction project shut down a building, said Wallace.

A WFPS capital plan is underway, with the goal to consolidate fire-paramedic halls and ensure stations are located closer to where most residents live.

If the new price for the temporary station is approved, the city will award a construction contract to Tractus Group, and use external debt to cover the extra costs.

The price was higher but the city removed requirements for a solar panel system, an appliance package and a fitness area.

Coun. Sherri Rollins, chairwoman of the property and development committee, said she expects council will approve the plan because the modular fire hall is clearly needed.

“I am determined to get this modular station done. It is of extreme utility in the growth stage we’re at in Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service… We have a neighbourhood in Waverley West that grew (to) the size of Brandon without a fire station,” said Rollins.

The councillor echoed the belief a mobile unit will be helpful long into the future to support other construction projects.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga