Chatham-Kent taxpayers spent almost a quarter million dollars last year for environmental testing around the perimeter of a property for a potential arena complex to be built on the former Navistar site in Chatham.
In a report to council, administration said $244,224 was spent on environmental testing, however the site will likely never be the home of an arena complex, as the site was sold to private investors earlier this year.
The municipality was shut out of funding from the provincial government and the arena complex plans have been put on hold for now.
Administration said the environmental testing, which took place on municipal property surrounding the Navistar property, was a benefit for Chatham-Kent as they now know that there were no environmental issues with the property, which is now being redeveloped by private investors.