The Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System Economic Impact Report produced by Direction Services of Massey">

The Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System Closer To Launch Date! The Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System Economic Impact Report produced by Direction Services of Massey, Ontario, was tabled Wednesday night, September 4, 2002 at the monthly Friends of the Spanish River meeting. Using a unique Awish list@ formula, Direction Services asked all five partners in this exciting project proposal to come up with a Awish list@ of riverside economic development projects in their own jurisdiction that were wanted, needed and feasible. The results include everything from a floating stage that all partners may use, to a full blown eco-boat tour business to capture some of the growing eco-tourism market. Add the combined Awish lists@ to the existing riverside tourist related businesses such as the nine-hole golf course in Espanola and Ruby Pick-Your-Own Strawberry Farm both right on the river, and one begins to see the tremendous economic development potential of the Lower Spanish River Waterway Corridor. Bill McKenna of Direction Services stated, AAll five partners have approved the project in principle pending funding and it is conceivable that a >ribbon cutting ceremony= could take place as early as next July 1, 2003.@ The five partners are the Township of Shedden, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation Community, theTownship of Sables-Spanish Rivers, the Town of Espanola and the Friends of the Spanish River. The consulting firm was able to put real relevance into the economic impact study because of the work done by the North Channel Marine Tourism Council, the Ontario Boating Forum and especially a recent Trent-Severn Waterway economic impact study. Mr. Bernie Villeneuve of Parks Canada who commissioned the TSW study explained, AIn 1997, boaters using the Trent-Severn Waterway spent $28.2 million dollars, almost three times that spent by land based visitors to the area!@ These figures illustrate just how important it is to develop the recreational boater market on the Lower Spanish River. Marcel Golec, Chairman of the Friends of the Spanish River explained, ANow that the Lower Spanish River has been returned to good health, economic development along the river is inevitable. As the lead agency in the Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage/Public Dockage System, it will be our job to ensure that any economic development along the Spanish River will be environmentally sustainable.@ The Friends of the Spanish River have been working with the Espanola branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources through their Living Legacy Program to build a series of interpretive centres along the Lower Spanish River to explain the rich history of the river, its restoration and feature examples of the natural flora and fauna in, on and around the Spanish River. AWe feel that through learning about the natural beauty of the river, visitors and local citizens alike will enjoy and respect this important trust,@ exclaimed Ed Tate, Secretary of the Friends of the Spanish River. The next step will be an all partners meeting to identify funding sources, build a management team and begin to build the Lower Spanish River Private Buoyage /Public Dockage System.