MELDRUM BAY—The community of Meldrum Bay and area celebrated the installation of the new fuel system and a new sewage pump out system at the Meldrum Bay Marina this past Saturday.
“I would like to welcome everyone here today to this Meldrum Bay recognition event. We are here today to acknowledge the contributions made by the various financial contributors and contractors who made this project a success,” stated Wendy Van Every, treasurer of the Dawson Citizens Improvement Association (DCIA). Also on hand from the DCIA were Vice-President Lee McDonald and President Richard Bradley.
“Our project included the replacement of our outdated fuel system with a modern one that meets current regulations,” said Ms. Van Every. “Also the installation of a new sewage pump out system for boaters and an RV dump station for campers. A new road exit to Highway 540 was also installed to facilitate traffic movement into and out of the marina.”
Ms. Van Every explained this new project is part of the waterfront project for Meldrum Bay that has been developed over the past 20 years, along with the construction of the new breakwall, the exhibition building centre and docks.
“We would like to thank the organizations that helped finance this project,” said Ms. Van Every. “First to contribute was Lafarge Canada Ltd. with $15,000. We received $111,500 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for the Ontario 150 program. As well, $100,000 was provided from FedNor for the Canada 150 program.
“And we would like to thank everyone who has helped us to access funding including Mike Addison of Lacloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corporation (LAMBAC), who facilitated a meeting with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. We thank them for their support. Also Fran Nadon and Arik Theijsmeijer from Fednor and Loran Grebanier from Trillium and Kim Murch from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. We also received tremendous support from MP Carol Hughes and a letter of support from Zhiibaahaasing First Nation. New North Fuels was also very helpful.”
“Our project contractors helped out tremendously and did extremely good work, on time and on budget,” stated Mr. Bradley. He explained the list of contractors included, “Patrick Sprack Ltd., who decommissioned the old system and installed the new system and Mike Varey, who did all the excavating work and installed the new cement pad.”
Mr. Bradley acknowledged “K.R. Thompson who emptied the old fuel tanks, DST Consulting Engineers which conducted the soil testing, EXP Services Inc (Andy Schell) for the permitting for the sewage holding tank and the new road exit. H and R Noble installed the road exit and the sewage holding tank. Paul Cooper competed the plumbing for the sewage system. Brad Parkinson completed the electrical work for the sewage system and Glenn Zembal constructed the housing for the new sewage pump, with assistance from Eric Thiessen and Albert Meijer.” He also noted help was provided by Lise Taylor of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) approvals branch.
“Everyone worked together and helped when it was needed,” said Mr. Bradley.
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes was in attendance at the opening and said, “congratulations on the completion of this project. It is said it takes a community to raise a child, but it takes movers and shakers to move the community forward stone by stone, project to project.”
“I want to thank all of you who were involved for having the vision and never giving up, even when things seemed darkand some of us were very upset,” said Ms. Hughes. “Small communities depend on having a lot of tourists around and this new fuel and pump out system will no doubt attract more boaters and visitors to the community.”
“I’m sure the word on this new system will spread fast among the boating community,” continued Ms. Hughes.
Ms. Van Every said, “I would like to thank Richard (Bradley) for the many hours he spent filling out funding applications and being the project manager. If it wasn’t for Richard we wouldn’t be standing here today for this celebration.”
Later at a reception where cake, coffee and tea were served in the exhibition centre, Ms. Van Every acknowledged and introduced the new Meldrum Bay Harbour Manager John Bonwick. “We are excited to have him here this summer.”
As reported previously it is extremely important to the community to have a fuel supply available at the Meldrum Bay Marina to support tourism and greatly benefit the marina. Until this project was completed there was no diesel fuel available west of the town of Gore Bay and the only other place to get gas was in Sheshegwaning First Nation. The new fuel system features an above grade storage tank, 10,000 litres of both gas and diesel in a dual compartment tank and a sewage pump out system.
The Meldrum Bay community DCIA took over the marina waterfront from the federal government in 2005 and the first portion of the waterfront project was the installation of the marina waterfront breakwall in 2008.
