Moncton Council has decided to spend about $1.8 million to replace the ice plant at the Coliseum.

A city staff report indicated the ice plant has reached the end of its expected useful life.

Cimco Refrigeration was the sole bidder on the project.

Director of facilities Alcide Richard responded to questions from council about previous work on the ice plant which was carried out in 2018.

“The money that was invested in the past has brought us to today and we’re renewing the whole thing – the internal unit and the external unit.”

The work is expected to take place this summer and should wrap up before the hockey season begins in the fall.

“A lot of this will depend on delivery of equipment. Based on what we’re being told prior to giving purchase orders, we think we’re going to be okay. But we’ll only know that once we start issuing purchase orders,” noted Richard.

Council decided to continue operating the Coliseum in 2018 after the downtown Avenir Centre opened in September of that year.