A new ice plant condenser will be installed at the Millennium Exhibition Centre this summer.

Altona town council approved the purchase of a new unit at a cost of $95,200, putting it well within this year's budget.

Recreation Director Ron Epp says the unit replaces a condenser that is slightly undersized for the MEC, and it will be more efficient and cleaner.

"Over the years, our current condenser created a lot of work and headaches for our staff in trying to keep it running when things kept freezing up during some of those cold winter months. The new unit will be much better in that regard. We wanted something that would not use water below freezing temperatures ... and specified that it would only use water when it was above freezing, so that when it's below freezing we don't get all that ice buildup."

The condenser will be purchased from Prairie H.V.A.C. out of Winnipeg, the company that submitted the lowest bid.

The old ice plant