GUELPH – Royal City Science has received a boost from Wellington County, as council agreed to pay $20,000 for organizers to conduct a feasibility study.
Royal City Science is a group of scientists from the University of Guelph (U of G) who hope to build a science centre on land owned by the university in Puslinch Township that is currently an aggregate pit.
The vision for the science centre is to build on the aggregate site as part of a demonstration project around rehabilitating aggregate sites once their licenses are exhausted.
The group presented to the economic development committee and chair Jeff Duncan summarized their request at the Feb. 27 county council meeting.
The university’s land is ideal, but no agreement has been reached between Royal City Science and the U of G at this time.
The project is expected to cost a total $50 million and the group has applied for a federal grant for $25 million.
Receiving that grant would greatly accelerate the project, but in the meantime, a land search is underway (in case it can’t be built on U of G land).
The group has received $20,000 from the tourism organization RTO4 and sought $20,000 from the county for the feasibility study, which will cost $40,000.
Councillor James Seeley, also mayor of Puslinch, said the group has presented to Puslinch councillors and they’re generally in support.
“To date the U of G has not committed to allowing that,” Seeley said.
“It’s the first choice and the easiest if the U of G would say yes.”
Duncan noted there would be economic benefit to Wellington County if the project comes to life.
“This is a project that could land here,” he said.
Councillor Campbell Cork was hesitant about the price tag.
“We are edging into becoming a partner in this,” he said.
“I see this as a provincial project and we should make it clear where we stand on this (in terms of financial support.)
“And they should find a better name,” he added, noting Guelph is known as the Royal City, not Wellington County or Puslinch.
Still, council agreed to support the feasibility study with $20,000.
