The future of the old government dock at North Bay's waterfront is still in question, but needs repairs or replacement. Photo by Jeff Turl.
A new wharf to replace the old government dock at King's Landing will be more than city taxpayers can bear, and Councillor Mark King says he won't support it.
King is the chair of the Community Services committee and was reacting to an announcement today from the province that it was contributing money to study the idea.
Multi-use pier at waterfront gets cash for study:
http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=83117
The first part of the study is seeing how the downtown, rail lands and waterfront could be tied more effectively together.
City studying how to better connect downtown with Waterfront:
http://www.baytoday.ca/admin/content/news/preview.asp?c=81187
The other part of the study deals with where the dock will sit in the whole project.
"I've got to be very honest," King told BayToday. "I don't support in any way, shape or form the fact that we would actually demolish the dock."
King says he's waiting for a report on the structural integrity of the dock and what kind of condition it's in. That consultant's report is still being worked on. Divers were in the city last month examining the structure.
King says he did, however, have an opportunity to have a chat with the people looking at it.
"The integrity was very good so that was encouraging. There obviously are issues with decking, but the overall supports, we'll just have to wait and see.
"From a cost standpoint we all know that there are very large issues circling within the municipality right now. The ability to go back to the taxpayer and support something like this isn't going to happen in my mind. Where would you find the money? I have no idea."
King says he's heard estimates for the project between 18 and 20 million dollars.
"Something like that just isn't going to happen. Financially it can't happen. It's one thing to go through with studies. In my mind if we are going to do repairs, we are going to do repairs.
" I know there are other councillors who re like-minded. Unless somebody finds a pot full of money that doesn't involve the local taxpayer, I don't see a whole lot happening.
See original story: City to investigate wharf redevelopment
http://www.baytoday.ca/content/news/details.asp?c=64288
King's Landing is named after Mark's father, Don King, who had a distinguished career in municipal politics.
