The Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-02-28, Page 30?WO
Waterfrent ti11 big Goderich asset
X 1,1L4,4
ommerce, recreation. in harmony
by Elsa Haydon
Traditionally the
harbour area under the
to.wn's jurisdiction,
owned or leased, had
been separated by the
commercfal harbour into
two distinct different
parts, the marina know
as Sung Harbour and.the
recreational area con-
• sisting of the main beach
afld .!t •
beach.
- The more recently
developed concept of
regarding the entire
• waterfront (Ma itiand
River and Lake Huron)
within the town limits as
a strongly related unit is
a more advanced way of
treating the subject and
looking towards
scheduled im-
prove ments.
Snug Harbour, of-
ficially opened in 1968, is
an example of excellent
co-operation between the
municipal and federal
governments. The
tireless effort of some
individuals resulted . in
this additional
recreational facility •that
helps bring in tourists
and allows local boaters
to enjoy their sport. •.It
also created some • con-
troversy.
The local persons most
directly responsible - for
the creation and early
development of Snug
Harbour were Mayor F.
Mills and Harbour
Chairmen R. ' Robinson
and Paul Carroll.
The Goderich Sailing
Club has always ef-
fectively participated
and advised. in the
development and im-
provement of thaMaripa."
During the first ten
years of the new facility
there were mainly
operational costs and
small improvements
which were offset by
revenue. Some wear and
tear had started to show
by the end of the decade.
In .1979 new lights had to
be purchased' and a—
• substantial part of the
electrical system had to
,
be overhauled.
In co-operation with the
Sailing Club a small
picnic shelter was also
erected in 1979 as a much
needed Snug Harbour
improvement.
The •Waterfront
Committee, formerly the
Harbour Coartriittee, is in
contact with the Federal
Government concerning
some erosion problem's. -
In seven years out of 10,
:the Snug Harbour was
!financially not only self-
, rjsupporting but had
revenue in „excess of
expenditures.
Snug Harbour is in the
process ,of getting a new
neighbour, the privately
owned Maitland Valley
Marina on the Indian
Island. Started in 1979, it
,., is to be finished in stages.
As Snug,. Harbour is
geographically limited,
the ` additional marina
services availability on
the municipality's overall
tourlit.iiiidbialfng scene,
is welcomed and will
create a wider variety of
choice in theluture.
,The federal govern-
ment is fully responsible .
for- the commercial
harbdur facilities, traffic
and arrangements, and
therefore, is not covered
in this report.
Under the chair-
manship of Paul Carroll,
•consIderable im -
pro.vements were Un-
dertaken in 1972 and 1973
in the main beach and St.
Christopbar's Beach
area, with' the help of a
•L o F TIi1Tiativ ess—'
Program grant.
Comfort facilities were
built in both areas, with a
picnic khelter on St.
Christopher's Beach.
Playground equipment
was installed and many
picnic tables and benches
were added.
Under a conservation
and development
program, 3,000 white
cedar . seedlings were
planted on the banks, to
combat erosion.
Several very attractive
and scenic timber
stairways were built out
of discarded railway tics,
backfilled with clay and.
gr.:vel. These stairways lev,els and. are very
connect the lakefront popular with tourists and
area with parksonupper local people who like to
•
walk in a green setting.
One of Mr. Carroll's
Turn to page 13 •
1
Alk.„,4,,•,..• 4
Lake freighters and_pleasure craft share harborlacilities all year round
.,• • ! • • • , ,
. •
CO
ENERGY FOR
TOMORROW'S
PROGRESS
4°4 "PROUD TO BE PART OF IT"
GODERIC PUBLIC
UTILITIES COMMISSION
b4 WEST ST.
GODERICH.
524-7371