“The lodge size and the construction timeline were impacted to an extent by global conditions,” explains Encana spokesperson Doug McIntyre. “However having said that, the Montney area itself remains one of our key growth areas, both as a long-term strategic asset, and for this year, it’s one of four assets in our portfolio that’s going to receive more than 80 per cent of our capital funding in 2015.”
The lodge has been reduced significantly in size however, with an anticipated capacity of 2,500; it now holds 1,250 workers.
“The original lodge footprint was planned to accommodate 2,500 workers, and it would have been comprised of two side-by-side, single-storey lodges that would have occupied approximately 80 acres,” McIntyre goes on to say. “Of course as mentioned, the size of the lodge and the construction timeline is evolving and we’re currently anticipating it will accommodate up to 1,250 workers.”
McIntyre says the site is progressing at a reasonable rate, and expects it to only grow in the near-future.
“On-site, there are more than 40 pre-fabricated units right now,” says McIntyre. “The lodge development and occupancy rates will increase gradually in alignment with facility construction progress.”
McIntyre anticipates the first 200 rooms will be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2015.
“We’re still all systems go there [in northern B.C.]; it’s a great asset and one that we certainly believe is a long-term strategic one for our company.”
McIntyre says the entire Sunset Prairie Lodge should be completed sometime in 2017.
