Discovery Centre posted on March 29, 2010 11:44
Friday, January 8, 2010
For Immediate Release:
MDC Committee Supports Option A for Harbour Re-Design
The Steering Committee of the Maritime Discovery Centre of the 1000 Islands today expressed its endorsement of Option A for the proposed re-design of the Brockville Harbour. The Committee based its support for that option on the following:
1. It is in the best interests of the future Maritime Discovery Centre, and the whole community, to ensure the highest and best future use of the marina property. Based on discussions with City Staff, the developer and the Committee’s own review, the Steering Committee believes that Option A creates greater opportunity for economic benefit to the MDC and to the community as a whole. Chief among these benefits is that Option A offers greater and better access to transient boaters, who will bring additional tourist dollars to our community, including the MDC.
2. The Steering Committee concurs with the technical recommendations of City staff, and the majority of other harbour stakeholders who, after having spent more than 18 months reviewing it, endorsed Option A.
3. The Committee does not believe that Option C is a ‘compromise’. It is a new plan that was not discussed by the stakeholder groups over the previous year. The sole purpose of Option C is to avoid moving 12 docks from the south side of the Boardwalk to the east side. It preserves the existing dock locations at the expense of the community’s long term interests - which would be better served by making those docks available to hundreds of people who would not otherwise visit the community.
The creation of more transient spaces will bring more visitors to both the Downtown and the Discovery Centre. It is also a “must have” for the long term financial sustainability for the marina operation.
For more information, contact:
Gino Giannandrea: 613-359-6590
Bob Burchett: 613-342-8772 ext. 450