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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-11-16, Page 1183 6 • GODERRICN, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBIR 16, 1983 50 CENTS PER COPY • A feasibility study examining the marine transportation needs of the Bruce Energy Centre, recommended that the port of Goderich was the most suitable location to expend funds for harbour development. Town officials and representatives of the two major industrial concerns at the harbour, Domtar and Goderich Elevator, will submit a brief to Transport Minister Lloyd Axworthy by the end of the year asking that the federal government undertake a $12.5 million construction program. The developments would include the creation of seaway depth berth north of the Sifto Salt Mine, dredging of the approach channel to seaway depth and extension of the breakwater. (photo by Dave Sykes) Will present brief to Transport Minister Town officials and harbour users will meet with Axworthy to discuss development Town officials and representatives of the two main industrial concerns at Goderich Harbour, Domtar Chemical Group Inc. and Goderich Elevators, hope to meet with Transport Canada Minister Lloyd Axworthy before the end of the year to discuss the possibility of expanding har- bour facilities here. Town council accepted a brief at its regular meeting Monday, outlining the need for the creation of a new seaway depth harbour to the north of the Sifto operation and dredging of the existing channel and harbour. The brief will be formalized this week and Mayor Eileen Palmer said she hoped that town officials and representatives of both Domtar and Goderich Elevator could meet with Axworthy to discuss the need for the proposed $16 million development at the harbour. Ostensibly, the brief outlines a demonstrated need on the part of the two major users for the expansion of the harbour to seaway depth. Long-time supporters of a seaway depth facility, both Domtar and Goderich Elevator could substantially increase the exportation of salt and agricultural products to both domestic and foreign markets with im- proved facilities. A feasibility study relating to the development of marine transportation facilities for the Bruce Energy Centre, released in April 1983, recommended that expansion take place at Goderich to ac- comodate the future shipping needs of the centre. Prepared by the consulting firm Marshall, Macklin and Monaghan, the study suggested that a new berth could be created along the north side of Domtar, a new basin and the existing channel would be dredged to seaway draft, the existing north breakwater would have to be ex- tended to protect the new berth and that additional berths could be created in the future near the mouth of the Maitland River. The capital cost for this expansion was estimated at $12.4 million. The dredging of the new berth and channel would cost $5.2 million; the extension of the north break- water and creation of the new berth would costs $2:8 and $2.7 million respectively while miscellaneous hardware and con- tingencies makeup the remainder of the cost. Subsequent to the release of the study, the municipality, users and regional representatives of Transport Canada were encouraged by the possibilities of ex- pansion here. Optimism heightened with the prospect that the project may have qualified for funds under the federal government's recovery program an- nounced in April by then Finance Minister Marc Lalonde. While $4.2 billion was committed to a national recovery program, some of it was targeted for harbour development. The Goderich proposal, while it received consideration, was later removed from the recovery list because the government felt the project was too costly and could be undertaken in 1985-86 under a Transport Canada departmental budget, subject to priority and availability of funds. Over the past several months, town officials and users have argued that the expansion program is necessary and vital to the community. It will also have beneficial effects on the revenues of both the federal and provincial governments. The port of Goderich is the highest - revenue producing port under federal jurisdiction in the province of Ontario. Under current wharfage rates of 26 cents per tonne, more than $850,000 in revenues would be generated for Transport Canada with a new seaway draft harbour. Domtar Sifto Salt Mine recently opened a third shaft in Goderich at a cost of over $35 million. The expansion, which has provided an additional 112 jobs for the community at full capacity, will also mean that average vessel shipments will in- crease to 3,3 million tonnes per year in 1986 from the 1.4 million tonnes now shipped annually. Two-thirds of that annual shipment will be exported to the United States at a trade value of $551nillion. The reclaiming of land due to harbour expansion could result in the construction of an evaporator plant at the mine site resulting 30 new jobs and the production of 300,000 tonnes of evaporated salt. The project , estimated at $25 million, would generate an additional $52,000 annually in wharfage fees. Goderich Elevators could also sub- stantially increase the quantity of grain products shipped to Canadian ports and foreign markets from a seaway depth harbour. Seaway vessels loading here are underfilled by 2,000 metric tonnes due to the shallow harbour channel resulting in lost revenues. The company could double its grain shipments over the next ten years if proper facilities were available. In the brief, the municipality suggests the expansion of the harbour facilities would result in increased employment and perhaps, attract new users to the harbour as a result of reclaimed property. Con- sidering that 80 per cent of industrial development in Goderich is generated by existing industry, town officials want to expand on the natural resources available here. A seaway depth berth and channel would make the two major users more com- petitive in the market place and augment the revenues of the port. The expansion project, the brief states, would generate approximately 1,000 man years of work during construction and approximately 100 jobs for each year following. Over half of Domtar's salt production is destined for export and the company expects major growth in this area, especially shipments to the United States. Axworthy told council in a letter that the government has commissioned preliminary engineering and design studies over the next year at a cost of $123,000. He suggested, however, that final approval of the project would be con- tingent upon demonstration of user commitment. Officials feel confident that the final brief will amply demonstrate the user commitment while providing employment and economic stimulation. Centre will stay open until all residents are relocated The Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped will remain opened beyond November 18 and until all residents have been placed in group homes or other provincial facilities. Centre administrator, Bill Gregg, said that while many employees will have their employment at the centre terminated November 18, others will be kept on staff through November 30 or until all residents have been placed. "Our projections indicated that all residents will be placed by November 28 and we're just being cautious with the employment situation," Gregg said. "Some associations are experiencing delays with furniture delivery and other things and it will delay the process a lit- tle." Fifty-nine residents are still at the Goderich centre while nine will be engaged in pre -placement visits over the next few weeks. Over 40 residents have graduated to community living Gregg said, have gone to Stratford, Brantford, Meaford, Goderich and other centres in the area. A group home will be opening in the town of Clinton in the next few weeks and Gregg indicated that only modifications to the home's wheelchair ramp are prohibiting six people from taking up residence there. The administrator admitted that initial projections on the number of residents who would qualify for group homes was high. "We started out with about 150 residents and 78 will go to community placements," Gregg said. The majority of the remaining residents will be transferred to the facility at Palmerston while three residents with specific needs were sent to the Oxford Regional Centre in Woodstock and two residents were transferred to the Cedar Springs facility. About 112 classified employees are still working at the Bluewater Centre and while all were offered alternate employment opportunities as promised by the ministry, many have resisted the prospect of moving. Twenty employees resigned to take other jobs, six have retired, 69 em- ployees have not made a decision and others have accepted employment with the ministry in other centres. Gregg said that 104 employees were interviewed for potential employment at the Youth Detention Centre and 58 were found suitable for work in the new centre. Many of those employees would be subject to a retraining program of variable duration. Once the Bluewater Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped is officially closed, the complex will continue to be maintained by a skeleton staff. "The plant will be maintained after the closure by the Ministry of Government Services," Gregg said. " A :le architects are looking at renovations now and tenders could be let by March of 1984. It would take another 12 months to complete the Turn to page 3 ar eatures y7' k 1983l cow , ook This week $lgna1-Star P b lshing la pleas. ed topresent 'What's Cooking t' Your eeo, a ,..., :,ve , femur. Ing the o Ta recipes of Signal -Star readers, The 1983 edition of What'- Cooking at Your Place appears as a special supplement to the November 16 issue of the Goderich Signal -Star; Cooks, chefs and bakers in our readership area have been more than willing to part wit» their favorite and secret recipes and the sixth edition of the cookbook promises to be the best one yet. Also, the Signal -Star will hold a random draw November 18 to deter- mine the three prize winners. Two hundred dollars in prize money will be awarded to three cooks who entered recipes for inclu- sion in the 1983 edition of the cookbook. ditch future editions of the Signal Star for details. Sidewalks in need of repair The sidewalks lathe town of Goderich are in "deplorable condition" and the works committee of council will seek an increase in its budgeted amount for sidewalk repair in 1984. In a report to the committee at its regular monthly meeting, Commissioner of Works Ken Hunter, said that the sidewalks in town are in bad need of repair and "require much more work than is presently being done by the town." Hunter noted that the committee does not have sufficient funds in the budget to maintain a regular repair program, but rather, only the bad spotsare being repaired. Committee members agreed that ,the 1984 budget should contain between $30,000 and $50,000 for sidewalk repair and that the program should be an ongoing one in order to make substantial gains. Parking ban now in effect The overnight parking ban started yesterday (Tuesday) for the streets of Goderich. Vehicles are not allowed to be parked on the roads between the hours of 2 - 7 a.m. under the town by-law. Goderich Police Chief Pat King wants to remind everyone that this by-law is in effect whether there is snow on the ground or not. For the first two weeks warning tags will be put on the cars, and after that three dollar tickets will be issued. .vv.'A•N a+ : •ky"T4,,;x..,.p r.. INSIDE ! Hl SIGNAL -STAR Hockey action The Goderich hockey teams are doing well in the early stages of the season, especially the juveniles who have won all five games they played. For complete details on how the juveniles and the other hockey teams are doing, take a look in the Recreation section. Vikings win The GDCI Vikings have done it again. The senior and junior football teams won the Huron -Perth Conference cham- pionship in their divisions. For the seniors this is their third consecutive year as champs. The juniors, who lost only one game all season and that was to Exeter, got their revenge by defeating them in the final. Pictures and the stories on the championship teams can be found in the Recreation section. . Tourism report A report from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation found that Goderich has more visitors to their tourist booth than 15 other towns and cities in the Southwestern Ontario region. Each tourist booth keptstatistic from which the report was made. For the complete details oti the study, take a look in this section of the paper. Theatre review Deathtrap, performed by Goderich Little Theatre last week was a murder mystery that was full of surprises. Joanne Buchanan reviews the play in the en- tertainment section in the second half of the paper. 4