Use of Battery Park as an Alternate Location
for the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel
Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station.
The Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (January 8, 1998) from the Commissioner of Works for the former Metropolitan Toronto:
Purpose:
To authorize the use of Battery Park as an alternate location for the Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station for the Western Beaches Storage Tunnel (WBST).
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funding for the WBST Phase I contract, in the amount of $38.5 million gross, has been provided as part of the (former) City of Toronto 1994, 1995 and 1997 Capital Sewer Budgets.
Permission to use Battery Park as a location for the WBST Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station would result in approximately $0.5 million savings.
The impact of the construction activities related to the Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station on the public and on the recreational uses in the park areas south of Lake Shore Boulevard West in the vicinity of Strachan Avenue is less at the Battery Park site than at the previously approved Coronation Park site.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) authority be given to utilize Battery Park as an alternate location to Coronation Park for the WBST Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station, subject to finalizing arrangements with Heritage Toronto related to protection/relocation of the Lancaster Bomber, tank and artillery pieces, and subject to satisfying the requirements of the (former) Metropolitan Toronto Parks and Culture Department; and
(2) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
The Council of the (former) Metropolitan Toronto Corporation, at its meeting of August 13 and 14, 1997, inter alia, granted approval and easement rights to the (former) City of Toronto for locating the Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station for the WBST in Coronation Park (Clause No. 22 of Report No. 19 of The Corporate Administration Committee).
Subsequently, the (former) Metropolitan Council, at its meeting of October 8 and 9, 1997, in considering the report dated September 8, 1997, from the Commissioner of Corporate and Human Resources recommending, inter alia, that authority be given to utilize Battery Park as an alternate location to Coronation Park for the WBST Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station if required, decided to refer a decision on this issue to the Council of the new City of Toronto, with a request that the impact on the public use of this space be assessed (Clause No. 72 of Report No. 23 of The Corporate Administration Committee).
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
The purpose of the WBST, located generally south of Lake Shore Boulevard West between Strachan Avenue and Parkside Drive, is to intercept and store, during periods of rainfall, polluted sewer discharges to Lake Ontario from the City=s combined sewer system for subsequent treatment before release to the Lake. Intercepting and treating the polluted sewer discharges will improve the water quality along the Western Waterfront and substantially reduce the postings of the beaches as unsuitable for bathing and swimming during the summer season.
The Board of Management of the (former) City of Toronto, at its meeting of December 18, 1997, in considering the report dated December 17, 1997, from the City Engineer regarding the Revised Proposal Call for the WBST, approved, inter alia, the award of Phase I of the Design/Build Project at a cost of $32,035,800.00 to the McNally-Frontier Joint Venture. Funds for this purpose had been provided as part of the (former) City of Toronto 1994, 1995 and 1997 Capital Sewer Budgets.
The total cost for Phase I and Phase II of the WBST project, as quoted by the successful contractor, amounts to $49,294,000.00. Therefore, the implementation of Phase II will require approval of additional funds, in the amount of approximately $18.0 million, by the Council of the new City of Toronto as part of the 1998 and 1999 Capital Budgets.
However, it is noted that Phase I of the project, which involves the construction of the storage tunnel and shafts between Strachan Avenue and Dufferin Street, is a complete project and can operate on its own. The terms of the contract for Phase I will obligate the Joint Venture to design/construct Phase II of the project at the price quoted, however, there is no obligation on the part of the new City of Toronto to proceed with Phase II of the project. Upon completion of Phase I, the tunnel would provide water quality improvements in the area of Ontario Place/Exhibition Place and the Toronto Yacht Club.
The successful bidder, the McNally-Frontier Joint Venture, submitted two alternative proposals for the WBST which only differ with respect to the location of the Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station. Alternative A, at a total Phase I cost of $32,035,800.00, proposes to locate the Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station in Coronation Park, south of Lake Shore Boulevard West, immediately east of Strachan Avenue. Alternative B, at a total Phase I cost of $31,500,800.00, proposes to locate the Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station in Battery Park, south of Lake Shore Boulevard West, immediately west of Strachan Avenue.
It is noted that, at both locations, the Pumping Station would be underground and the land to be occupied as working area during construction and the location of access hatches to the Pumping Station, as well as the overall restoration of the site, will be subject to approval by the Commissioner of Parks and Culture.
In Coronation Park, the Main Shaft and Working Area would occupy the westerly part of the park and require the temporary closure of one of the two baseball diamonds for a period of up to thirty months. This location has been previously approved by Metropolitan Council and, accordingly, the project could proceed immediately at this location.
In Battery Park, the Main Shaft would be located to the south of the area where the plane, tank and artillery pieces are currently located, in an area which is generally not used by the public or for recreational purposes. The working area to be occupied during construction would extend beyond the Main Shaft to the north and would require the temporary relocation of the tank and the artillery pieces. The Lancaster Bomber could stay in place and be protected from the construction site by means of a solid hoarding. The Battery Park location requires approval by the Council of the new City of Toronto, as noted above.
The advantages and disadvantages of the two locations are as follows:
Coronation Park:
Advantages:
(a) Available space for the contractor to be used as working area is less restrictive.
(b) Removal of trees not necessary.
Disadvantages:
(a) Additional Project Cost in the amount of approximately $0.5 million.
(b) Requirement to close one baseball diamond for a period of up to thirty months.
(c) Greater impact of construction activities on recreational activities in Coronation Park, e.g., requirement to close one baseball diamond, construction traffic, and construction-related noise, etc.
Battery Park:
Advantages:
(a) Lower Project Cost resulting in savings of approximately $0.5 million.
(b) Virtually no impact on recreational activities in the park area south of Lake Shore Boulevard West.
(c) Opportunity to combine the requirement for the Main Shaft and Pumping Station with plans of Heritage Toronto to relocate/rehabilitate the weaponry and plane.
Disadvantages:
(a) Available working area for contractor more restrictive.
(b) Requirement for removal of several small trees and subsequent replacement following completion of construction.
(c) Requirement for relocation of the tank and artillery pieces within Battery Park to allow for contractor=s working area during construction.
Staff of City Works Services have discussed the alternative location with the (former) Metropolitan Toronto Parks and Culture staff, who have found the alternative location in Battery Park to be preferable to the Coronation Park site for the Main Working Shaft. Naturally, the relocation of small trees and bushes and subsequent replacement after construction will be carried out by the Parks and Culture Department at a cost to the WBST project.
Discussions have also been held with staff from Heritage Toronto, who have advised that there are plans to relocate the Lancaster Bomber and tank and artillery pieces, however, these plans have not been finalized at this time. Heritage Toronto has requested that the Lancaster Bomber not be moved at this time but appears agreeable to the temporary relocation of the tank and artillery pieces. The City would be required to construct a hoarding around the Lancaster Bomber and relocate or protect the tank and artillery pieces to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Parks and Culture and Heritage Toronto. There may also be opportunities to financially assist Heritage Toronto in relocating/rehabilitating the weaponry and plane by combining the requirement for relocation to make space for the Working Area and Main Shaft with Heritage Toronto=s long term plans for the relocation/rehabilitation of the historic pieces.
Staff of City Works Services are currently consulting with Heritage Toronto in order to reach a final agreement regarding the details of protecting or relocating the weaponry and plane.
Mobilization and commencement of work at the Main Shaft and Pumping Station had initially been scheduled to commence in mid-January, 1998, but has now been delayed to February, 1998 to allow for obtaining the necessary approval for the Battery Park location. Accordingly, in order to avoid further delays to the contractor, a decision on the Main Shaft location is required as soon as possible.
Conclusions:
In my opinion, the Battery Park location, as an alternative site for the WBST Main Working Shaft and Pumping Station, is acceptable and indeed preferable. The Commissioner of Parks and Culture has advised that he concurs.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Werner Wichmann: Tel: 392-7703.
