Nechako Boat Launch Needs Help

Monday, February 13, 2006 07:09 PM

The Nechako River Boat Association has asked Prince George City Council to establish a contingency fund to cover possible cost over runs of a proposed concrete boat launch on the Nechako River.

The major problem is that a special kind of dam has to be built while the concrete work is being done. The building of that dam (sheet piled coffer dam) could cost $150,000.

The Association has raised $92,000 in donations of materials and labour to build the launch and will apply for funding from other government sources under possible Provincial tourism grants, infrastructure projects, and the Northern Trust. There is a concern the cost of the project could hit $300 thousand dollars. The original budget for this project was $130 thousand.

The request is for the City to set aside $100 thousand dollars to enable the project go ahead this year. Council has deferred the matter to later budget discussions.
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Posted on Monday, February 13, 2006 07:09 PM in News by Elaine Macdonald

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Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on February 13 2006 7:50 PM

Let them that use it pay for it. If they can't afford it they probably don't need it. there are better things for the city to be spending tax moeny on.

Posted by: Percy on February 13 2006 10:58 PM

I envy those who are fortunate enough to own boats and only need to drive down to River Road to put their boats in the river for an evening of fun. How nice for them. A convenience for sure.

But, what responsibility does the city have to help out with the funding of this launch?

I would prefer to see any additional funds directed to our streets where many more taxpayers will benefit from the expenditure.

No criticism for the River Boat Association to ask tho. If I had a boat, I would probably ask too. Percy

Posted by: Chadermando on February 13 2006 10:59 PM

It could be considered a safety issue with this being the only boat launch in the city for access to the river. Many non boaters use the river for tubing, canoeing, and swiming or fishing. Should any of these other uses find themselves in trouble we need to have a boat launch we as a city can rely on.

The city has already proved neglegent in the needless deaths of swimers over the years for not providing a safe place to swim in our rivers, nor signage warning of bad spots, so it would come as no surprise to me that they would have no interest in river safety even though we are the river king capital of Canada.

Posted by: Palopu on February 15 2006 8:11 PM

People have been launching boats in the Fraser River and Nechako River since the late eighteen hundreds. Paddlewheelers to Prince George and then boats to Huble for the Portage to Summit Lake and on to the Yukon. Boats coming down river from Tete Jaune to Huble, and Prince George. There is not a lot of science involved in getting a boat in the water, it is more about backing a boat into the water while still attached to your vehicle to eliminate a lot of hard work. In addition to the launch at Cottonwood Park, there is another one a Eskers that works good.

Dont really see a problem here, however a good boat launch might be good for tourism, in which case we should support it.