Council Notebook: Ritchie Wharf stage contract awarded

City, province cost-sharing on project at prime waterfront attraction in Newcastle

A conceptual drawing of the new Ritchie Wharf Park stage and dance floor, for which city council awarded a $612,000 contract at Tuesday’s meeting. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

MIRAMICHI • Work on the long-awaited stage and dance floor replacement at Ritchie Wharf Park is expected to start this winter.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city council unanimously awarded a contract worth $612,950, taxes in, to Tracadie firm GeniBuild Construction to demolish and remove the existing wooden covered structure and dance floor at the waterfront park in the former town of Newcastle and construct a new covered dance floor and stage area.

Mayor Adam Lordon said the project is under budget and is part of council's vision for redeveloping its waterfront parks. He said the engineer’s estimate is based on the concepts presented to council last year by landscape architect and planner Jim Scott of Trace Planning & Design.

“This is a very well-used facility on the waterfront,” said Lordon. “When we were there to announce funding for the project, the seniors who are there every night [for Ritchie Wharf Music nights] were thrilled with the design and excited to see it come to life. We look forward to having that in place for next season.”

GeniBuild was the lowest of the four bidders on the project. Bay Construction Management of Dieppe bid $701,528.70, local firm Baisley’s Interior & Exterior Construction bid $822,537.50, and Avondale Construction of Halifax bid $891,710. The engineer’s estimate was $738,300. All bids included HST.

In a report presented to council, engineering director Mark Buckingham said $753,000 was budgeted this year for the work. He said a new concrete, steel, and timber structure would be built, with work happening this winter. It’s expected to be finished in time for Ritchie Wharf’s opening in May 2025.

Community wellness and recreation director Jason Walsh said the structure will have a steel roof.

In August, the province announced $301,000 from the Regional Development Corporation for the project, leaving the city on the hook for the other $451,800. Funding was also announced for the active transportation southern spine, Ritchie Wharf boardwalk repairs, an outdoor recreation hub at the old Harkins Middle School site and Memorial Field, public Wi-Fi at the Miramichi Civic Centre, playground overhauls in Douglastown and Loggieville, and upgrades at Memorial, the Gerald King Ballfield, and Miramichi Valley High School field.