By Dianne Gouliquer
Construction on the Town of Gravenhurst's multimillion-dollar wharf is still awaiting government funding, but the project could get rolling as soon as next spring.
Ian Sudgen, the co-ordinator of development services and the chief planner for the Town of Gravenhurst, says an application to the Ontario SuperBuild Corp. for $18 million is a key component of the wharf project. The town's funding application was submitted in April and could be approved as early as this summer.
"Construction won't begin until we hear back from the Ontario SuperBuild Corp.," Sudgen says. "We've applied to them for funding in the amount of about $18 million and they're in the review process of all the applications they've received from across the province. They've tentatively said announcements will be made for this first round of applications in late summer or early fall. Once we know about the funding application from SuperBuild, assuming it's a positive approval, then all the details, and engineering, will come in immediately after that, and construction would begin in the spring of 2002."
Sudgen says the Town of Gravenhurst is working on the project in partnership with the Gravenhurst Historical Society and other partners. The project will see the development of a wharf that will connect the entire community and feed the town's tourism industry.
Between the town, the historical society and several other private-sector partners, about $31 million in funding has been secured for the $49-million project. Sudgen says the SuperBuild money is critical for the project to move ahead.
"We will also be seeking other funds through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund for some components of the project," Sudgen says. "Other than that we'll be ready to go."
The wharf project will create "plenty of opportunity" for individuals and businesses outside the project's partnership, Sudgen says. There are several spots along the wharf, including a hotel and eateries, that will be either sold or leased to individual operators.
"It's not part of the partnership, but there's opportunity there for other people."
He says existing businesses in the town can also reap the benefits of the project by purchasing or leasing a site along the wharf.
"There are also going to be linkages to the existing downtown core area by way of a trolley system. We don't have any kind of public transportation here in Gravenhurst, so there will be a trolley system that will be a part of this operation, in order to link it to the downtown merchants.
"As well, because a portion of the clientele coming to the wharf development would be coming by water, they could come by boat and leave their boats at the day-use docking facility. Then we would want to encourage them to shop downtown as well. The trolley system would bring people both ways."
Sudgen says the project is all about tourism. The type of retail stores located along the wharf would be different than the stores found along the town's main street.
"It's not really intended to be where to go to buy your toothpaste and deodorant," Sudgen says. "It's going to be experience-type shopping. It's tourist-related marketing."
If all of the project's funding sources fall into place as planned, Sudgen says the wharf will be completed within two-and-a-half years.
