Location Chosen

Originally published on July 29, 2015

Bonnie Learning/The Labradorian

New wellness centre to be established at Goose Bay Town Centre

After much public consultation — including two online surveys earlier this year that saw some 1,000 submitted responses — a site for the proposed wellness centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay has finally been determined.

The Goose Bay Town Centre — located next to Tim Horton’s on Hamilton River Road — has been selected as the location for the facility, albeit, the far end located towards Mealy Mountain Collegiate.

The other two sites under consideration were Husky Park and Kinsmen Park.

The recommendation was put forward by councilor Jackie Compton Hobbs, chair of the Community Services and Recreation Committee, at a regular public council meeting on July 28.

“The Community Services and Recreation Committee recommends council select Goose Bay Town Centre as the preferred location for the wellness centre….” said Compton Hobbs.

In discussing the item before voting, Councilor Tony Chubbs added the process has gone through an extensive public consultation.

“There has been lots of feedback…. so really, the recommendation put forward by council at the moment is really a reflection of the public’s input into it and not a real decision on council on where to put it.”

Mayor Jamie Snook added with regards to land ownership, this is a not a situation where the town would be purchasing land.

“It would involve land transfer between ourselves, Goose Bay Capital Corporation and the (English District) School Board, which has land in that area.”

All council members in attendance voted in favour of the recommendation.

They also voted in favour of awarding a contract to Aperture Tech Inc. in the amount of $47,627.65 to purchase new surveillance equipment to be placed at Kinsmen Park and Mealy Mountain Collegiate field.

“We’ve been working on this for awhile to get this in place on town property,” said Compton Hobbs.

While on the topic of MMC field, as an aside, Mayor Snook asked town manager Wyman Jacque to provide an update on some recent vandalism to the new fencing that is currently being erected around that location.

“The site is still under ownership of the construction company doing the work, and they are responsible … for any repairs,” said Jacque.

“What we’ve been experiencing is the gates on the south side facing the bike trail have been damaged or removed…. there’s been extensive damage…so the town will be putting some measures in place to try to deter this (activity).”

The 24 live surveillance will be monitored 24/7 out of the Town’s fire hall.

Town Centre

Councilor Bert Pomeroy put forward a recommendation to council as chair of the Development, Planning and Public Engagement committee, that Goose Bay Capital Corporation (GBCC) — the developer of the Goose Bay Town Centre — be permitted a delay in their development agreement.

“We received a request from GBCC to delay a requirement in the Goose Bay Town Centre development agreement, to acquire crown lands for phase one of the project,” he said.

“The agreement required GBCC to acquire the land by Aug. 31, but they’ve informed us that they’re unable to meet that timeline.”

Pomeroy asked council to approve the recommendation for a maximum of one year, with GBCC providing an amended development agreement for the town’s review.

“We ask they provide this agreement within three months of approval on the recommendation from council, and they will be responsible for any and all costs associated with the amendment,” said Pomeroy.

In discussing the recommendation before voting, councilor Chubbs added that as part of the amendment to the agreement, the committee has also recommended to staff that they continue to pursue control of erosion and blowing sand in the area.

“The Goose Bay Town Centre has agreed to put a water truck on site and take care of it that way in the short term, but we’ve directed staff to push for a long term remedy for the area of Tim Horton’s and other areas.”

Council approved the recommendation unanimously.

Enforcement

Councilor Tanya Michelin, chair of the town’s Enforcement committee, gave an update on several issues, including the frequent patrols by RCMP and the Community Constable in areas known for frequent acts of vandalism.

“One of our surveillance cameras had been destroyed, but was recovered,” noted Michelin.

“The RCMP have identified one individual and are conducting an investigation.”

She noted cameras for illegal dumping have been installed in certain areas, and more cameras have been purchased for this purpose.

Michelin said illegal use of ATV’s and dirt bikes continues to be an ongoing issue, adding there were eight traffic violation issued for the month of June.

She also noted the two digital speed signs around town are capturing valuable traffic-related data, noting date is reviewed by the committee on a monthly basis.

“In the month of June, over 112,000 vehicles travelled on Churchill Street, one way,” she said.

The average speed recorded was 47 km/hr in a 40-km/hr zone, said Michelin.

“Also, there were 70,000 vehicles travelling on Corte Real in the month of June, one way,” she said, noting the 40-km/hr zone averaged a speed in this period was 41 km/hr.

“However, that’s not to say that all vehicles are travelling at this speed,” she noted. “But the majority of the vehicles were in the speed limit range according to captured data.”

Michelin said the committee is also strongly enforcing stop work orders and clean up orders.

“All residents are strongly encouraged to keep their property clean and free of debris,” she said.

“Letters have gone out to two property owners this month for this purpose.”

Two properties include a stop work order on Pottle Street and a clean up order on Davis Crescent, which Michelin put forward to council for approval and which was accepted.

Other business

In other council news, Jackie Compton Hobbs, chair of the Community Services and Recreation Committee, said the tender for work on skateboard park will be issued this week and construction will hopefully start in the fall; fencing for the off leash dog park has been ordered and will start to be installed in August; and new equipment for several town playgrounds will be installed this fall.

Councilor Chubbs, as chair of the Environmental and Emergency Preparedness committee, noted a successful spring clean up with 150 dump truck loads of yard waste carted away from people’s properties.

“That’s a significant amount of waste,” he said.

Chubbs also noted the town received a $10,000 grant from the Multi Materials Stewardship Board’s Waste Diversion Fund to create a space for dumping of organic waste such as grass clippings, leaves and trees.

“We are looking at an area off Corte Real Road for this,” he said.

Source:

http://www.thelabradorian.ca/

bonnie.learning@tc.tc

Hannah Chapple August 10th, 2015

Posted In: Town Centre News