Is Highway Railway Group trying to buy Owen Sound harbor?
Public shut out by confidentiality agreements
Email from Friends of NDACT http://www.facebook.com/Friends.of.NDACT September 3 2012
You may be aware that the Highland Companies (HC), proponent of the proposed mega-quarry, has an affiliated company called the Highland Railway Group (HRG). The goal of this second company is to restore the dismantled CP Rail Owen Sound Subdivision from Streetsville/Mississauga to Owen Sound.
No surprise that the rail right-of-way runs right passed the HC’s proposed mega-quarry site or that HC has purchased the spur of land necessary to connect the proposed quarry to the rail.
Owen Sound harbour, at the north end of the rail line, was established for national and international shipping. The harbour needs to be dredged at an anticipated cost of $5 million and the Town’s Council has shown an interest in considering an industrial partner.
On Friday (31-Aug) a news item came out noting that an unnamed third party company has expressed an interest in buying the Owen Sound harbour. The company was not named due to confidentiality agreements.
News Item More Federal Money for Harbours
Bayshore Boradcasting News August 31, 2012 by Manny Paiva :
Owen Sound in talks with a potential third party owner for the harbour to get it dredged.
Bayshore Broadcasting News has learned there is more federal funding available for harbour dredging and divestiture.
Bruce Grey Owen Sound Conservative MP Larry Miller confirms 21 million dollars is now available.
That is a lot higher than the 11 million dollars Owen Sound officials heard was available at this month’s AMO meeting.
Bayshore Broadcasting News has also learned the City is exploring a third party ownership of the harbour.
Mayor Deb Haswell says there are companies interested in owning Owen Sound’s harbour — but she wouldn’t elaborate due to confidentiality agreements.
Haswell admits it’s an option worth exploring since there’s only 21 million dollars are available for 60 ports identified for divestiture by the federal government.
And the Mayor notes the funding is only available until 2014.
Haswell says she is cautiously optimistic they will be able to move forward in this option.
Haswell admits it helps that MP Larry Miller is committed to dredging Owen Sound’s harbour at an estimated cost of five million dollars.
Haswell adds any discussions involving a third party will include the City’s and public’s interest in accessing the harbour lands.
It is not much of a stretch to believe that the unnamed company is HRG. However, despite the importance of such an issue to the public, Owen Sound Mayor/Council have allowed themselves to be subject to confidentiality agreements.
You might want to drop a note to Mayor Deborah Haswell with your comments.
Further Research: Link:
Forewarned is forearmed. While rail may sound like an enticing idea, don’t forget that with these players, in this place, at this time Rail = Mega-Quarry.
Leave a Reply