According to catalyst committee co-chairs Bob Hawkins and Tim Reid, approximately 4,500 people responded to the online survey.
The committee also held five days of public hearings on the projects, which were attended by 800 people, say the co-chairs of the catalyst committee.
At the end of the day, [les sondages] will be essential elements of the final decision-making
says Tim Reid.
In addition to upgrading the Regina Central Public Library, other proposed projects include: a multi-purpose event center, aquatic center, baseball stadium and soccer field.
The new central library and aquatic center were top priorities for the majority of respondents, according to the survey results.
New central library
The proposal to replace the current central library with a new 150,000 square foot facility would cost approximately $125 million.
Respondents are rather divided on this project.
28% totally agree, 29% tend to agree, while 26% disagree.
The majority of those interviewed said that this project should be funded by a combination of federal, provincial, municipal, private investment and community fundraising funds.
Thus, the project should be carried out over the next five years.
Multipurpose event center
The proposal to replace the Brandt Center with a new 380,000 square foot multipurpose event center would cost $120 million, but a large majority of respondents, 47%, do not see this project as a priority.
However, if implemented, the majority of respondents indicated that it would not be achieved for at least 10 years.
Regina’s catalyst committee held eight public consultations during the week of October 17 to allow residents of Regina to express their views on five development projects.
Photo : CBC/Alexander Quon
New aquatic center
The proposal to replace the Lawson Aquatic Center with a new 265,000 square foot facility would cost $173 million.
53% of respondents said this project should be funded by funds from federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as private investments and community fundraising.
Baseball stadium & soccer field
More than half of those surveyed said the $15 million baseball center project was not a priority.
The $10 million soccer field project received the same response.
However, Catalyst Committee co-chair Bob Hawkins notes that there is strong interest in both projects.
When the answers are divided between five projects […] you don’t see someone who is 100% interested
he adds.
For his part, Tim Reid says new projects in Regina are creating jobs.
The Catalyst Committee will present a report based on the survey to Regina City Council by mid-January. He says the next step will be to find locations for the proposed projects.
With information from Laura Sciarpelletti
