File photo.
HEATHER BOA Bullet News GODERICH – Sport fishers, industry at the harbour, and the Town of Goderich are closer to a consensus on public access after a series of meetings, the town’s clerk administrator reported to council last night.
Larry McCabe walked through a 15-point report on proposed changes to provide more public access to the harbour, prepared after a meeting between representatives of the Goderich Port Management Authority, Sifto Canada Corp. and the town.
He said the report required further discussion and approval of some actions by council however it addresses issues raised during a public meeting in December in which dozens of fishers objected to restricted access to the mouth of the Maitland River where it empties into Lake Huron, an area at the north end of the harbour that is off limits as a result of a lease agreement signed between the town and Sifto this past August. Future lands created through infilling as part of the proposed harbour expansion project will also have restricted access.
The crux of discussions lies in the public walking access to a rubble area at the river mouth adjacent to the Da-Lee Dust Control facility, he said.
“We’re adamant from the town’s perspective that that will be opened up regardless of what the agreements say concerning public access. It has to be opened up to at least the Da-Lee area and that’s what we’re working on, for vehicle and pedestrian traffic to give access to the river wall,” he said.
Also key among the items were the reopening of the launch ramp for the 2013 season, potential launching at the fishermen’s wharf after a dock extension is completed, fencing on the south side of the north pier to allow access to three dolphins when vessels aren’t loading, access to the south pier, discontinuing a plan to provide public access along the bottom of the river wall, and designated parking for fishers.
Pat Pennacchietti, president of the Maitland Valley Anglers, told council the anglers agree with the actions outlined in the letter. He and three other fishers met with the representatives from GPMC, Sifto and the town yesterday.
The group rejected the idea of parking metres after it learned the prices range from $5,000 to $15,000 and risked being damaged by salt.
“The entire area down there has to be looked at in terms of parking restrictions,” McCabe said, noting there are designated truck staging areas where fishers won’t be able to park and time limits will be required elsewhere.
Council asked administration to prepare a bylaw to deal with traffic concerns.
One Comment on "Consensus reached on public access to harbour"
Lots of key issues were looked at, except for parking, once they reopen the launch ramp. With the Canadian Coast Guard building where it is, they have eliminated valuable parking for vehicles with boat trailers. The town also needs to look at the deplorable state of the river launch ramp, someone is going to get seriously hurt, and boats are going to get damaged!