It’s time to secure Callander’s Centennial Park.
Last April, the relentless storm and high water caused severe damage to the steel wall that borders the shore of Centennial Park. The metal peeled away from the shore in some places and many boards were ripped from the dock.
The damage was extensive and estimates for repairing the steel are expensive.
See: High tides and relentless winds lash Callander’s coast
Callander’s director of operations Tim McKenna and Ashley Bilodeau, Callander’s senior city manager, presented a report to council for its June 25 meeting. The report outlined some options – replacement or repair – and included a cost estimate for a complete replacement.
A complete replacement of the steel breakwater wall will cost about $780,000 – “very expensive,” said Mayor Robb Noon. To save costs, the council agreed that the best option might be to build a new breakwater wall out of stone rather than steel.
“Steel is in high demand,” McKenna said, and much of the cost of a full repair would go toward materials.
Additionally, to save money, the city could focus its attention on the most damaged sections, repairing those first and then, as budget allows, continuing improvements along the shoreline. However, the staff report cautions that “given the age of the breakwaters and the severity of the damage, repairs may only be a temporary solution.”
The city has contacted its insurer and is awaiting a response. Insurance may cover the repairs, but the municipality would still have to pay a $100,000 deductible. Staff are also exploring funding options through Emergency Management Ontario to see if the project qualifies for financial assistance.
The federal government could also be an option. Staff are currently exploring funding opportunities related to preventing coastal erosion.
Council has agreed to raise the issue again at its July meeting. By then, staff should have received a response from the insurance company and can also look into any permits needed to alter the bank with a stone wall instead of a steel one.
The new wall will also provide an opportunity to give the waterfront along the park a new look. “We will have the opportunity to redesign and reimagine the waterfront,” said City Councilman Mike Dell.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter for BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Canadian government.
David Briggs, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, BayToday.ca
