With the busy summer season nearly here, a massive infrastructure project at Muskoka Bay in Gravenhurst has some local business owners on edge.
During the most recent Gravenhurst council meeting, Heather Fraser, manager of Muskoka Shipyards, appeared on behalf of the Muskoka Wharf business owners to express concerns over the Bay and Beyond infrastructure project.
“We recognize that the Bay and Beyond project is necessary and that the infrastructure needs replacement,” says Fraser. “The timing will definitely impact our busiest season…and the business owners have deep concerns about the construction-related delays, the detours and the messaging to the public.”
Fraser said several events have already been cancelled at the Wharf this summer and people are regularly asking the business owners if they will even remain open during the summer.
Fraser said the business owners are asking council to waive fees for the use of Cockburn Square at the wharf and assistance in streamlining the application process to use the square. In particular, they would like to use the square during regular business hours. They would like to run activities that encourage people to visit the waterfront.
Melissa Halford, Gravenhurst Director of Development Services, said the Town plans to launch a program called We Dig Gravenhurst to promote the Wharf area. The plan involves promoting the typical water-ski shows and live theatre, as well as moving Cinema Under the Stars to the Wharf and the creation of Dig Dollars, for use strictly at the Wharf.
Mayor Heidi Lorenz said the Town was cognizant of the challenges being faced by the Wharf business owners due to the Bay and Beyond project, and the request for use of the square will be considered in a forthcoming report from Town staff.
“We all want to see a successful summer for you despite what’s going on,” she said
Bay and Beyond is a three-stage water, sewer, stormwater and roadway reconstruction project on Muskoka Road 169 in Gravenhurst. The primary driver of the project was the replacement of the water and wastewater pipes, which date back as far as 1944.
The 1.9 km section of 169 set for construction is located between Steamship Bay Road and Gull Lake Park. The contract is a planned two-year project covering stages one and two of the three-phase project.
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