The project, which involves a retrofit of the runways, was one of five projects included on a list of potential capital projects for the region discussed at a Jan. 5 joint meeting of the three units.
While collectively the units agreed the airport project should be the top regional priority, each individual municipal unit – the Town of Yarmouth and municipalities of Yarmouth and Argyle – will vote on this at their upcoming council meetings.
In keeping with the transportation theme, construction of a new ferry terminal was identified as the number two priority.
An expansion of the Mariners Centre was deemed to be the third priority.
As part of its election platform, the federal Liberal party promised to increase infrastructure dollars available for capital projects across the country. West Nova MP Colin Fraser, who was at the Jan. 5 joint meeting, said what shape the infrastructure funding will take hasn't been finalized, but he said a discussion of this will be part of the government’s pre-budget deliberations.
Ranking criteria for the projects on the municipal units’ list had ranked the airport first and the ferry terminal second in terms of importance. The ranking criteria included such things as what projects could attract federal funding, urgency of replacement, the possibility of attracting regional and provincial partners, future operating costs of existing infrastructure and economic development impact.
When it comes to the airport, the units see it as a project that needs to move ahead because being able to improve and increase utilization of the airport facility is seen as a way to spur economic growth and potentially attract new business and industry. The airport infrastructure is seen as an asset to the region. But it is also an aging asset.
The runway retrofit project has an estimated price tag of $24 million.
At the meeting there was discussion of even looking at extending the length of the runway, although that would be added cost of further millions.
“The future of the airport and its growth has a couple of opportunities that may, if a business case develops, require extension of the runway,” said airport manager Mike Fields.
Yarmouth town councillor Ken Langille felt strongly that a runway extension should be looked at for the future.
“I really think we need to bite the bullet on the airport ASAP,” he said, noting it is an asset that not many parts of the province have. “We should look at extending the runway so we can bring in bigger planes.”
People often associate an airport mostly with passenger service, but there are also opportunities for cargo and freight, among other things.
Meanwhile, ferry terminal construction would also run into the tens of millions. While a close second in terms of regional priorities for seeking federal dollars, it wasn’t selected as first because with a new ferry operator and a new vessel coming on stream this season, it’s not known what the requirements of a new facility would be. Although in saying this, improving air and sea transportation access are seen as complementing one another.
It was also pointed out by Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood and Yarmouth Municipal Warden Murray Goodwin that the regional priority list is a living document and priorities could shift or be added depending on need and funding opportunities.
It was also noted that even if funding comes through for projects, any work could still be years away.
Another project seen a priority for the region is a synthetic surface for the track facility at Ecole Par-en-Bas, which would better allow the region to host large-scale track and field events. During the Jan. 5 meeting it was decided – based on the lower cost of this project (it is pegged at around $800,000) – it would be best to tackle this as a joint municipal units project that would explore all funding opportunities.
The project, which involves a retrofit of the runways, was one of five projects included on a list of potential capital projects for the region discussed at a Jan. 5 joint meeting of the three units.
While collectively the units agreed the airport project should be the top regional priority, each individual municipal unit – the Town of Yarmouth and municipalities of Yarmouth and Argyle – will vote on this at their upcoming council meetings.
In keeping with the transportation theme, construction of a new ferry terminal was identified as the number two priority.
An expansion of the Mariners Centre was deemed to be the third priority.
As part of its election platform, the federal Liberal party promised to increase infrastructure dollars available for capital projects across the country. West Nova MP Colin Fraser, who was at the Jan. 5 joint meeting, said what shape the infrastructure funding will take hasn't been finalized, but he said a discussion of this will be part of the government’s pre-budget deliberations.
Ranking criteria for the projects on the municipal units’ list had ranked the airport first and the ferry terminal second in terms of importance. The ranking criteria included such things as what projects could attract federal funding, urgency of replacement, the possibility of attracting regional and provincial partners, future operating costs of existing infrastructure and economic development impact.
When it comes to the airport, the units see it as a project that needs to move ahead because being able to improve and increase utilization of the airport facility is seen as a way to spur economic growth and potentially attract new business and industry. The airport infrastructure is seen as an asset to the region. But it is also an aging asset.
The runway retrofit project has an estimated price tag of $24 million.
At the meeting there was discussion of even looking at extending the length of the runway, although that would be added cost of further millions.
“The future of the airport and its growth has a couple of opportunities that may, if a business case develops, require extension of the runway,” said airport manager Mike Fields.
Yarmouth town councillor Ken Langille felt strongly that a runway extension should be looked at for the future.
“I really think we need to bite the bullet on the airport ASAP,” he said, noting it is an asset that not many parts of the province have. “We should look at extending the runway so we can bring in bigger planes.”
People often associate an airport mostly with passenger service, but there are also opportunities for cargo and freight, among other things.
Meanwhile, ferry terminal construction would also run into the tens of millions. While a close second in terms of regional priorities for seeking federal dollars, it wasn’t selected as first because with a new ferry operator and a new vessel coming on stream this season, it’s not known what the requirements of a new facility would be. Although in saying this, improving air and sea transportation access are seen as complementing one another.
It was also pointed out by Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood and Yarmouth Municipal Warden Murray Goodwin that the regional priority list is a living document and priorities could shift or be added depending on need and funding opportunities.
It was also noted that even if funding comes through for projects, any work could still be years away.
Another project seen a priority for the region is a synthetic surface for the track facility at Ecole Par-en-Bas, which would better allow the region to host large-scale track and field events. During the Jan. 5 meeting it was decided – based on the lower cost of this project (it is pegged at around $800,000) – it would be best to tackle this as a joint municipal units project that would explore all funding opportunities.
