SIMCOE VILLAGE TO COST ADDITIONAL $22M

INFLATION COULD PUSH PROJECT UP EVEN FURTHER

It's going to cost more — in fact a lot more — to build the Simcoe County's new long-term-care home in Beeton.

At county council's June 14 committee of the whole meeting, councillors learned it will cost about $226 million to complete the project, approximately $22.4 million more than the previous budget of $203.5 million.

The increase includes $12 million to address earthworks requirements that were not previously known, plus another $10.4 million related to design changes, which will increase

the footprint by nearly 30,000 square feet.

County councillor and Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough experienced some sticker shock.

"I'm amazed at the escalation in the cost for this

project. Not that we don't need it, but it's a $12-million increase," he said. "We're not talking peanuts there."

According to the staff report, additional floor space had to be added in various areas of the facility in order to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and pandemic response design requirements.

This includes the addition of separate change rooms for staff, and a larger entrance way for staff for screening purposes. The larger footprint will also allow larger mechanical equipment to be installed, which will allow fresh air to be provided to the entire facility in the event of another pandemic. Other changes include an additional waste room, and storage spaces for personal protective equipment

Changes and improvements were also made to the greenhouse, therapy pool, fitness spaces, activity rooms, dining spaces and resident storage. Increasing the pool size to two swim lanes also resulted in additional tenant space being created on the second floor, next to the space that will be used as a physician's office.

The report also noted that inflation, which is impacting all of the county's construction projects, could further drive up the cost, but the impact won't be known until construction of the main facilities ramps up next year.

Mayor Rick Milne told Simcoe.com he was "satisfied" with the report's explanation of the increases, and said he will continue working with Deputy Mayor Richard Norcross to ensure the "much-needed facility" keeps progressing.

"This remains a tremendous and significant development for Simcoe County and the Town of New Tecumseth," Norcross told Simcoe.com. He further said "the ultimate value" of the facility to the community and residents will be "undoubtedly realized for years to come."

The project has been in the planning stages for several years, and in early May, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site, located at 5988 8th Line.

Simcoe Village, which is being modelled after the Georgian Village campus in Penetanguishene, will see the construction of a nearly 500,000-square-foot campus. It will have 160 long-term-care beds, which includes 34 new beds, along with variety of 180 housing units for older adults, which represents more than 140 new units.

The 20.6-acre property will also feature a variety of services, including health and dental clinics, a pharmacy, restaurants, retail spaces, a salon, and indoor/outdoor recreational areas.

The county is currently working toward an opening date in 2024 or 2025.