David Burke & John French
Staff Writers
Squamish Mayor Ian Sutherland said extending the deadline for the Paralympic sledge-hockey arena to Oct. 31 makes sense for Whistler but he added that he is frustrated by the offer.
"It is obviously frustrating for us but at the same time we have to respect the fact that Whistler has to go through a process that gives their community a chance to have all the input it needs to have," Sutherland said. "All we can do is sit back and wait for the situation in Whistler to play out."
Whistler lawmakers welcomed the offer by the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC).
While acceptance of that offer is not a forgone conclusion, two lawmakers said they think Whistler officials should take VANOC up on the offer so that Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) staff can further investigate the municipality's options.
Another, Caroline Lamont, said that if nothing else, it will be good to have that information at next Monday's (Sept. 19) Council meeting. That's when Council is expected to entertain a staff presentation on the arena issue, including public input gathered at the Aug. 27 open house.
In a brief statement issued by Information Officer Diana Waltmann, RMOW officials said acceptance of the deadline extension "would enable municipal staff to pursue in further detail the various options, including one put forward by a local business owner, and for more public input."
VANOC is offering $20 million toward the construction of an arena in Whistler with between 3,500 and 5,000 seats that would serve as the venue for Paralympic sledge hockey in 2010. If the facility is built in Squamish it will have 2,500 seats, said Sutherland. The mayor of Squamish said anything larger won't work for the community.
The current deadline for a decision on the issue is Sept. 30.
