The tender for the new Carmacks arena is expected to be out in the very near future, says a government communication analyst.

Aisha Montgomery of the Department of Community Services said this morning they have received federal approval for Ottawa’s 75-per cent share of the project.

All that is required now to issue the tender is final check by an internal government committee, and that should happen within the week, she said.

In a recent interview, Community Services Minister John Streicker said the territorial cabinet has already approved Yukon’s share of the funding, in recognition of how important the arena is to Carmacks.

The community of 550 is the only one of the eight incorporated Yukon communities without an indoor arena.

According to the government tender management system, the tender was tentatively scheduled to be issued May 31, with a completion date of Aug. 31, 2020.

The budget amount is described as $5 million-plus.

The Star, however, has heard it’s more like $14 million.

Carmacks Mayor Lee Bodie said in a recent interview the figure initially talked about was in the $7.5 million range but jumped up to $10 or $11 million. Most recently he has heard $14 million, he confirmed.

Bodie said the new arena will be a huge community asset, for all kinds of functions all year round. It will also serve as the new curling rink, with the old one recently condemned and torn down, he explained.

Bodie said extensive research has shown the arena can be converted into three or four curling sheets in a day or so, and returned to regular arena ice in the same amount of time.