Accessibility and Access Keys [0]
Pontiac – Although the traffic on the Ottawa River Waterway was noticeably reduced this season, the Pontiac MRC continues to stand by it.
The Pontiac MRC’s waterway committee noted that 233 boats were lifted this year compared to 441 last year. This is broken down into 39 boats lifted at the Bryson-Portage du Fort bypass, 51 lifted at the Chapeau-Desjardinville bypass and 143 lifted at Rapides des Joachims. Boats are counted for the season between July 1 and Labour Day.
“Last year tourism was down because of bad weather”,” said Chichester Mayor and waterway corporation executive committee president Donald Gagnon. “This year we had a perfect summer, so we don’t know why.”
Although overall usage was down, the amount of boats lifted at Rapides des Joachims increased by 10 per cent.
Gagnon said the decrease in traffic could be accredited to the increase in fuel prices.
“We usually lift 100 more” said Gagnon,
At a recent Pontiac MRC council meeting, mayors resolved to continue supporting the waterway. This can be seen in its $75,258 budget for the waterway next yea.
Part of the 2006 waterway budget will be used to pay of Deep River’s unpaid share.
“They committed, but didn’t pay out,” Gagnon explained at last week’s MRC meeting. “We support this waterway and will pay off the bad debit – under protest.”
Ian effort to increase usage and in turn generate more revenue fro waterway shareholders through tourism, a business plan has been created to develop a non0profit Ottawa River Waterway corporation that will include members from both sides of the river. The corporation will control activities and search for funding.
Currently, Pontiac MRC is operating three lift while Mattawa and Temiskaming operate one each. The lifts used a state of the art hydraulic trailer that can handle all sizes to power-boats up to 30 feet long and 15,000 pounds displacement.
“They will co-ordinate everything and it will make it easier to work with,” said Gagnon.
Pontiac will transfer its boat bypass equipment to the new corporation to secure a vote and become a share holder, as well as turn its assets over the new organization.
Earlier this year, a plan was set forth to obtain a lift a Fitzroy Harbour by the summer, which would allow passage from the outskirts of Ottawa to Rapides des Joachims.
“The permits have not been obtained,” said Gagnon of the 500-kilometer waterway. “Fitzroy is the only link missing to Ottawa.”
The plan, called the Ottawa River Project, put offers on two parcels of lands on either side of the Ontario Power Generation dam. The two lots are located down the river on Ferry Road and near Laverne Bay on the upstream side of the dam.
The project has been trying to open a bypass in Fitzroy Harbour since the waterway first opened in 1993, looking at the Chats Falls are as a possible site.
“We entered into agreement because we believed in tourism,” said Litchfield pro-mayor Ken O’Leary at the recent MRC meeting. “The future of the Pontiac lies in forestry and tourism.”