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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-10-19, Page 1135 2 erica SIGNAL-- STAR OODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19,1983 50 CENTS PER COPY The development of the waterfront has been in the planning stages for several years and some visible evidence of those plans is beginning to show. With the help of ONiP and Parks Assistance Act grants, extensive work has been completed at St. Christopher's Beach this year to the tune of over $100,000. The work includes landscaping, the construction of a new pavillion and shelter, the construction of a new boardwalk along the beach, the installation of underground wiring and chain fencing and improvements to the beach area. About $60,000 will be spent on further improvements next year. (photos by Dave Sykes) St. Christopher's Beach Planning has transformed lakeshore area into fine community park The relationship between industry, commerce and recreation has been a stormy one at times for this Lakeshore community. While Goderich Harbour is one of the busiest and most productive ports on the Great Lakes, there has always been a conscious and positive effort to promote compatability between the commercial - industrial and recreational interests in the waterfront area.It has not always been an easy task. But recreation has survived and prospered as has the instrial develop- ment at the harbour. The town of Goderich has a tough but enviable reputation to live up to. Long revered as the Prettiest Town in Canada, it has depended on the waterfront to ac- comodate both an ambitious industrial sector and tourist trade. The development of the waterfront area,from the mouth of the Maitland River to the southerly town limits, has long been recognized as essential to the potential growth and stability of the town. That development, however, could not be solely accomplished by the town, nor could the costs be shouldered by the taxpayers of the community. Much of the development that has taken place along the Lakeshore today, is a direct result of shrewd and careful planning by previous councils. One of the most progressive councils, with respect to waterfront development and planning, mapped a str5tegy for development under Mayor Frank Mills and waterfront development cochairmen, R. Robinson and Paul Carroll. In 1971, harbour committee chairman Carroll, submitted a detailed harbour and waterfront development proposal that has, ostensibly, been slowly implemented or incorporated into new plans. Carroll recognized then, that all levels of government would have to be involved if any improvements were to take place along the waterfront. The municipality, he suggested, would find difficulty justifying tax money spent on waterfront im- provements. The federal government was heavily involved in the massive renovations to the entire Snug harbour area but Carroll advocated investing in the waterfront area with annual expenditures of only for proper maintenance. He advocated the town's participation in the Pam Assistance Act, a provincial program that granted up to $100,000 or 50 per cent of the cost of land acquisition and the subsequent creation of parks. The document suggested to council that the St. Christopher's Beach area should be developed under the parks Assistance Act to ensure the future availability of the land and water area for future citizens seeking public waterfront recreational activities. Today we can see some visual evidence of the 1971 proposal. With the help of grants from the Parks Assistance Act and the Ontario Neighbourhood Improvement Program, St. Christopher's Beach is slowly being transformed into a beautiful, public waterfront park. The significance of that stretch of waterfront was recognized in the 1970s. During that time, comfort stations and a picnic shelter were built at the beach, playground equipment installed and picnic tables were placed on the beach. Over 3,000 seedlings were planted on the banks tpo combat a severe erosion problem and scenic, timber stairways were built connecting the beach with parks on the top of the bank. Much of the planning of the town's waterfront, parks, and ONIP committees came to fruition this summer with ex- tensive renovations to St. Christopher's Beach. The town was awarded two separate grants of $400,000 under the ONIP program, and $160,000 of that total was reserved for Keach and waterfront im- provements. When the channel to the harbour was being dredged last fall, the silt was transported and dumped on the stretch of waterfront along St. Christopher's Beach. A new pavillion and change was con- structed near the water filtration plant taking advantage of federal -provincial employment programs and an extensive boardwalk was constructed along the length of the beach. Underground lighting was install and chain fencing pend lan- dscaping of the area followed. Groins were also placed along the shoreline in a con- tinuing effort to combat the erosion problem. More than $100,000 has been spent on the improvements to the beach area to date. ONIP chipped in with $50,000; $25,000 was received under the Parks Assistance Act and the town contributed the remaining $25,000. Previously, the town had received grants to cover the cost of waterfront plans. Next year an additional $60,000 will be spent for improvements to the area. Commissioner of Works Ken Hunter ex- plained that storm sewers are needed, the parking areas will be built up, the road will be paved, more playground equipment will be purchased, lights will be erected and as many as 150 trees will be planted. The town has been experimenting with groins in an attempt to keep the sand on both beaches.Hunter explained that the process will be a trial and error situation. The town is also working to improve the erosion situation south of the water filtration plant. Fill has been dumped against the steep banks of the cliffs in an attempt to stabilize the banks. The development of the waterfront area including the banks of the Maitland River and the Lake Huron shoreline, will be vital to the growth of the town as a viable in- dustrial concern and tourist attraction. The development that has taken place so far, has definitely enhanced th )waterfront area. Group wants traffic signal The intersection at Bayfield Road and Bennett Street is a hazard that is placing the lives of adults and children in jeopardy a spokesman for a neighbourhood group told council Monday. Jim McDade, a parent and principal of St. Marys Separate School on Bennett Street, appeared before council Monday on behalf of 369 people living in the area of the intersection. McDade spoke on behalf of the delegation and presented council with a petition, bearing the 369 signatures, which asks council to erect traffic lights at the intersection immediately. The matter has appeared before council on different occasions over the last two years. The Ministry of Transportation and Communication has informed town of- ficials that the traffic patterns and volume at the intersection are not sufficient to warrant the installation of traffic signals. The ministry was of the opinion that the opening of the Suncoast Drive extension would alleviate much of the traffic problems along Bayfield Road. The ministry refuses to subsidize the lights and council would have to pay the entire cost estimated at $35,000 to $40,000. Council did commission a traffic study to investigate traffic flows and patterns, and while the report and its recommendations have not been presented to council, McDade quoted from the study. At its October 3 meeting, a motion to proceed with the installation of traffic signals at the corner was tabled, until council received and revs w,ad,the report from the.. traffic study and, Councillors John Doherty and Jim Searis again presented a motion calling for the immediate installation of lights at the corner but Mayor Eileen Palmer ruled the motion out of order claiming council had to abide by its motion to table the matter until the traffic committee's report was received. In his presentation to council, McDade suggested that the need for a traffic light at the corner of Bayfield Road and Bennett Street was more of a neighbourhood problem that was the responsibility of council. Children going to and from St. Marys School, Robertson and Victoria Public Schools, Goderich and District Collegiate and the Mac's Milk store, cross at the intersection several times daily. Expressing concern that pedestrian traffic was intense at the intersection at critical times, McDade said peak flows of both pedestrian . and vehicular traffic necessitated the need for traffic signals. Turn to page 2 • Collegiate will host teachers Teachers from across Huron County will be gathering in two separate places on Fri- day, Oct. 28 for their professional develop- ment day. Secondary and intermediate (Grades 7 and 8) teachers will be meeting at Goderich District Collegiate Institute and elementary school teachers will be meeting at Seaforth Public School. The public is invited to both programs which start at 9 a.m. and babysitting ser- vices are provided. Further information may be obtained from the neighborhood school. The GDCI program will have the theme - new directions - a map for the eighties - with three speakers in the morning and numerous workshops in the afternoon. A representative of the Ministry of Education will be speaking on the Ontario secondary and intermediate schools cur- riculum. An officer of the Ontario Secon- dary School Teachers' Federation will be speaking on the same subject from OSSTF's view. The third speaker in the morning session will be the Huron County Board of Educa- tion's new director Bob Allan. Mr. Allan will be presenting the board's new direc- tions and its organizational structure. The afternoon workshops for the in- termediate and secondary teachers will feature presentations on recent changes in the education system in the individual sub- ject areas. The spirit of inquiry in environmental studies is the theme of the elementary teachers professional development day. The various workshops hold throughout the day will focus on developing students' skills enabling them to learn through ques- tioning. "Teachers and parents both benefit from hearing the same messages and gain- ing insights into effective ways of helping young people," states a letter from the PD committee which will be going to all parents. Pay me now ... or pay later If the monthly report of bylaw en- forcement officer Dick Eisler can be used as an accurate barometer, people are paying their parking fines. After the presentation of his monthly report to council Monday, coundllor Bill Clifford asked Eisler if he ever laid any charges. "Every month we get your repart and no charges are laid," the councillor said. Eisler assured Clifford that charges are laid when necessary but with respect to parking tickets Eisler commented, "People realise they will pay more In the long run so they are paying their parking fines." Ed Broadbent to tour Huron Preparations for Ed Broadbent's visit to this area are now in the final stages. As previously reported the federal leader of the NDP will be touring the counties of Bruce, Grey and Huron on Nov. 9. Organizers are considering a tour of a furniture factory in Hanover and a visit of the Pine River Cheese Co-operative, south of Kincardine. Commenting on Broadbent's visit Bruce - Grey President Michael Lohse said, "Ed is very sincere about wanting to meet people in rural Ontario. And we are trying to set up his itinerary accordingly. After all we are facing completely different problems here than in the big cities where the other parties concentrate their efforts trying to win the electorate. And they think they have rural Ontario all wrapped up anyhow. But Ed and the NDP as a party are constantly trying to find out what really is on peoples' minds regardless of where the votes are con- centrated. And naturally Ed and the NDP would like to show people that the NDP has solutions for a lot of the problems we in rural Ontario face." In the evening of Nov. 9 Broadbent will be back in Hanover to attend a dinner of the Bruce -Grey NDP at the Hanover Coliseum. Country Fair ready to go The 18th annual Colborne Township Christmas Country Fair is being held today (Wednesday) at Saltford Valley Hall until 6 p.m. and again on Saturday and Sunday. This year's fair is being sponsored by the Blue Water Chapter Order of the Eastern Star no. 284, Goderich with all proceeds to go towards the Intensive Care Unit of Alexandra Marine and General Hospital. As well as a large variety of crafts, the fair features homemade baking, .locally INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Minor hockey It's hockey season once again and minor hockey in Goderich has started. This week in the Recreation section, there are several write-ups on the local teams. Take a look to see how they did in their season openers. High school sports GDCI athletes continue to perform well in football, basketball and volleyball. Although many of the junior football players are injured they are still winning games. The senior Vikings are doing ex- tremely well on the field, combining rushing and passing to beat their op- ponents. For all of the high school sports details, take a look in the Recreation section. Fall fashions With the coming of a new season it is time to look at the new fashions that are available. Even though there are plenty of stores that carry the new fall styles, some like to make the clothing themselves. For those people Gen's Sewing Centre held a fashion show last week. Fdr a look at what Is in style, see this section. ro 1