Duane Hicks
While an agreement officially has to be passed as a bylaw at its May 11 meeting, town council voted Monday night in favour of awarding a tender to Tom Jones Construction for $1,063,394 to complete the waterfront development, as well as relocate the Hallett and lookout tower.
Couns. Andrew Hallikas, Ken Perry, Paul Ryan, Sharon Tibbs, and Rick Wiedenhoeft all voted for the project while Coun. John Albanese was against it.
Mayor Roy Avis could not attend Monday’s meeting as he was out of town, but had indicated to the Times last week that he would not vote in favour of it if he were in attendance.
Supporters said the town has to do something to enhance the community and its tourist appeal.
“Sometimes we [council] get caught up in sewer, water, and roads,” Coun. Hallikas said in an interview yesterday.
“Of course, you can’t have a town without them, they’re important,” he stressed. “But they always seem to get the most attention and get taken care of first.
“But the road has to lead someplace, right?” he reasoned.
“It’s nice that if at the end of the road, there’s things that the community can enjoy, like your libraries, your museums and waterfront, and your parks and your paths,” added Coun. Hallikas.
“Things that enhance the quality of life for all of us.
“Of course I support water, roads, and sewers, that goes without saying, but I think in addition to that, we have to give due diligence to what makes the community a richer place to live,” Coun. Hallikas continued.
“Libraries, museums, parks, and so forth—that’s the heart and soul of the community. We need those.”
Coun. Hallikas pointed out the relocation and refurbishment of the tugboat and lookout tower to the west and east of the Sorting Gap Marina, respectively, are only part of the $1.459-million Phase II Heritage Tourism project.
It also includes a riverfront deck with viewfinders, a playground development, and landscaping, as well as interpretive panels, signage, and wayfinding connecting the downtown core to the riverfront.
“I think it’s going to be gorgeous when it’s done,” he noted.
Coun. Wiedenhoeft agreed the Hallett and lookout tower combined will help attract people to the waterfront.
“I don’t think it’s ever going to be a destination marketing ploy, I have no illusions about that,” he said. “But I do believe that if [tourists] come down there and spend a little time down there, they may stay for lunch, they go downtown and do a little shopping.
“So we may hold them for half-a-day or maybe a few hours, which is going to benefit the downtown, which is going to benefit all residents.
“If the downtown thrives—they pay a substantial amount of tax—and I think that’s going to help all residents,” Coun. Wiedenhoeft added.
As several other councillors have pointed out in the past, the Seven Oaks area by Pither’s Point Park is part of the Agency One land claim.
Even if the town ends up maintaining the land, there may be some recognition of the burial mounds there—and it would be appropriate for the town to move the Hallett and lookout tower anyway.
And if the town does not maintain the land, it will have to move the Hallett and tower—and pay for it all instead of now as part of a primarily government-funded project.
The town’s share of the waterfront project is about $293,500, with the rest being paid for through federal and provincial grants as well as local partners (i.e., the BIA and Chamber of Commerce).
