Archaeology delays Stoney Creek centre

Stoney Creek’s past is getting in the way of its future.

The city is at risk of losing more than $8 million in federal and provincial funding if the new Stoney Creek community centre isn’t complete by the Oct. 31, 2011 deadline set by the Harper government.

And, according to Councillor Brad Clark, a slow-moving archeological study at the community park construction site has made it impossible for the city to meet that mark.

“I find it absolutely ironic that there’s a potential to lose the community centre because we’re doing the right thing and acting with diligence on the archeological side, on a national site,” he said. “In order to complete the project on their schedule, we would have to ignore the archeological surveys and we’re not willing to do that.”

Construction of the $13 million centre — a one storey, 26,000-square-foot facility featuring a lap pool, exercise rooms and senior program space — is not expected to wrap up before early 2012.

The funding for the project is part of the federal government’s multibillion dollar economic stimulus program, which has allowed the city to invest more than $200 million in infrastructure improvements. The bill for the projects was split equally, with the city, province and feds all contributing one-third.