KAWARTHA LAKES-Councillors in the City of Kawartha Lakes are one step closer to approving a new $50 million paramedic headquarters in Lindsay.
According to a staff report presented to council, sitting as Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, the new station would be centrally located on Angeline Street South and service the southern portion of the City.
“Our Paramedic Service has never had a purpose-built facility. For over two decades we’ve been managing in outdated facilities that are fundamentally unsuitable for emergency services. While we have been making due, that’s come at a cost of efficiency and service delivery. It’s critical that we have the infrastructure and the facilities in place to support not only our current needs, but the future growth of the community and the expected rise in demand for paramedic services,” said Chief Sara Johnston, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service.
The estimated cost for the Paramedic Headquarters and Fleet Centre facility is $50,000,000. This is a sharp increase from the original estimate of $33,000,000. The increase is due to major capital cost inflation according to the City. As such, the Proposed 2025 Tax-Supported Capital Budget presented to the Budget Committee at its meeting on September 25, 2024, increased the 2025 and 2026 instalments for the project from $13,000,000 to $21,500,000 each.
The report says this budget encompasses the construction of the new paramedic headquarters, site development, contractor fees, design allowances, and various contingencies as outlined in the estimate. Several contingencies are incorporated into the budget, including measures to protect against rising labour and material costs and a commitment to integrating environmentally conscious elements into the design. Additional contingencies provide a buffer for unforeseen construction challenges and adjustments initiated by the owner.
The land, which also houses the Adult Education Centre, would be leased from the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB).
The new facility will consolidate a number of the existing paramedic facilities into a central location according to the report. The Fenelon Falls, Bobcygeon and Coboconk area stations would remain in service, all others would be part of the consolidation. According to the report, some of the existing facilities may be repurposed, particularly those identified for expansion as shared municipal spaces.
The plans show the facility spans 61,032 square feet representing the largest portion of the hard construction costs. Additionally, site development is a significant component of the overall project. To accommodate the project’s complexity, contractor general requirements are included in the budget, along with a design and pricing allowance to ensure the facility meets current needs while allowing for future growth.
It will feature dedicated spaces for paramedic response, fleet storage, logistics, vehicle repairs, training, community paramedicine, and administration, ensuring that the service is well-equipped to handle both current and future needs. In addition to serving as the new Paramedic Headquarters and Fleet Centre, the facility will also house:
Backup Information Technology (IT) Server: A secure location for the City’s critical IT infrastructure, ensuring continued service in the event of system failures.
Kawartha Lakes Police Service’s Backup Communication Centre: This backup centre will enhance emergency response capabilities by providing a failsafe for critical communications.
“As Lindsay’s population is set to double by 2031 and with thousands of new homes coming to Kawartha Lakes, we are committed to investing in infrastructure that ensures the safety and well-being of all residents,” said Mayor Doug Elmslie. “This facility will be key in supporting our paramedic services and keeping our growing community safe.”
Council heard that the costs of the project and associated land leasing are 35% recoverable from development charges, with the expectation that approximately 35% of the facility is reserved to accommodate the needs of growth. As the design of the facility aligns with this expectation, the Proposed 2025 Tax-Supported Capital Budget maintains development charges recoverability at 35% for the project.
The location was chosen based on an evaluation of facility location options by analyzing travel time performance alongside call distributions and future development trends. This assessment identified the proposed location as a strategic and superior alternative to the current site according to the report.
The report proposed council enter into a lease agreement with the TLDSB. It will now come to full council for approval.
