Quinte West Centennial Park boat launch to be upgraded

Quinte West City council decided on Monday evening to provide $2.1 million in funding for upgrades to the Centennial Park boat ramp.

This is in contrast to the recommendation from city public works staff to increase the project budget to $5 million. Coun. Allan DeWitt suggested funding the core tasks needed for the launch's rehabilitation and funding the remainder of the project with future capital budgets.

“I think we should only be building the core items boat launcher right now. And that we save off the rest until next year or even a year after whenever we think we can fit it into our capital budget,” said Coun. DeWitt.

The core items include dredging the water and installing docks and ramps to the waterfront near the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens. The added provisional items would be improving the nearby parking lot, adding in an L-shaped dock and installing two culverts which would add an additional $2.445M plus HST. If Council approved the entire project, the cost would be $4.543M plus HST plus contract administration.

The project comes at a time when city councilors are tightening their purse strings. Together with rising inflation and the discovery of needed upgrades to the Trent Port Marina brakewall, councilors are concerned there is too much spending going on.

“I don't think we can keep spending money like this,“said Coun. David O'Neil.

“I agree… I think we're spending way too much, way too fast,” added, Coun. Leslie Roseblade. “I think the city has better things to do with their money than spend $3 million on another boat launch.”

Coun. Michael Kotsovos explained that a boat launch at Centennial park would be better located to serve the aquatic events held in the area. He also noted that the water level would make it easier for boaters to launch into the water.

“We identified that Centennial Park would be the best location for a boat launch, just for the events that are always held at Centennial Park,” said Coun. Kotsovos. “All the comments I hear about that specific launch is that it damages their boats. It's used only because there are no better options at the time. They said Centennial Park is a bit low and it could be improved so that their boats don't get damaged.”

“It's a terrible boat launch the way it currently sits,” added Coun. Dewitt. “When we bring in tournaments here, which are some of the top tier tournaments in North America, they can't launch their boats there.”

After some deliberation, council voted in favor of moving forward with completing the core items needed for the Centennial Park boat launch with a projected completion date of the in-water works by Sept. 30.

Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison asked city staff if there was any provincial or federal funding available to which Quinte West CAO David Clazie replied that one application sent by the city was denied. Not to be discouraged, Mayor Harrison added that he hopes to lean on support from the region's representatives.

“We can certainly indicate our needs to other politicians as well as Todd Smith,” said mayor Harrison. “We have been in contact with MP Williams and have let him know the concerns we've got and the needs that are here.”

During the meeting, council also approved the sale of 5 acres of vacant land in the North Murray Industrial Park for $250,000. As well as approved the sale of the former College Street School near Trenton's new fire hall for $400,000 to be used by Hastings Local Housing Corporation for construction of affordable housing.