Just in time for a couple of upcoming events in Leamington, there'll be a new outdoor amphitheatre in Seacliff Park.
Town council has approved the project at a cost of just over $1.2-million.
Mayor John Paterson admits that's more than expected. "The things that we really had to include to make this a real premier destination — and those have all been included in this final design — it did drive the price up to probably double what we were thinking it was going to be, but as luck would have it we've got the money. We don't have to raise taxes to pay for this, the money is in our hands right now."
Aveiro Contractors out of Dorchester near London won the contract with a bid of $1.167-million.
T-C-I Titan Contracting out of Windsor missed out on the work after coming in just $592 more expensive than the bid from Dorchester while the bid from Barrinetti Construction out of Kingsville was about $19,000 more.
Paterson says council is excited to see the project take shape but is little disappointed not to be able to hire a local contractor. "We really wanted a local construction firm to do the job, but the low bidder is what we have to go by, that's provincial law."
He expects the amphitheatre to be up and running in time for July 1st celebrations and for a Hospice fundraising event in August.