Community News
Updates for the Community News
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Media Release - June 14, 2023
Rossport Marina Announces Next Step In Future Development
Rossport, ON - Rossport Marina Non-Profit Inc., locally known as The Rossport Dock Committee (RDC) officially announced the completion of their Marine Asset Management Plan (MAMP). The plan is part of their overall Marine Access Development Project. The MAMP was completed in March by Thunder Bay's FormStudio Architects Inc., with assistance from Red Rock-based Ontario's Superior Country, in partnership with Parks Canada.
The MAMP is a pre-design study that includes geotechnical work, drawings of options for docking and overall marina layouts, associated costs for proposed capital projects, and recommendations for revenue generation. "The purpose of the MAMP is to guide the next phases of development", explains RDC Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Collinson. "It will also assist us to obtain funding to improve the marina's facilities and infrastructure, for both locals and visitors."
The village of Rossport is located approximately 190 km east of Thunder Bay, and is a popular stop for travelers, kayakers, anglers, and boaters.”It's one of the most protected and accessible archipelagos in the region, and I would venture to say within the Canadian side of Lake Superior,” says Superior Country”s Executive Director, Dan Bevilacqua. “So, the public marina there is an important and busy place. We are hoping to make Rossport marina one of the jumping off points for the cruise ship guests to get out into the region. Proper, sustainable development is key moving forward.”
A structural assessment of the Rossport dock, completed in 2021, noted that it is in very poor condition. As a result, approximately two-thirds of the dock has been condemned. “There continues to be limited docking space on the north-south leg of the dock and services like pumpout, water, and docking will be accessible on that section. The boat launch is open and will operate as it always has,”, stated Harbourmaster Bill Collinson.
The next and final step of the RDC's overall Marine Access Development initiative is the completion of a Strategic Plan, which will outline the most efficient and sustainable practices for management of the Rossport marina going forward. The RDC's Strategic Plan project is underway, and will be completed over the coming months by North Bay's Karen Jones Consulting, with assistance from Superior Country, in partnership with Parks Canada.
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Contact:
Cathy Collinson, Secretary/Treasurer
Rossport Marina
Quick Facts:
The Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. was incorporated on June 26th, 1995.
Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. (RDC) was transferred ownership of the Rossport Marina from Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1995
The RDC continues to own and operate the property as a non-for-profit organization managed by a volunteer board of directors , with a Mission to provide safe, quality public access to Lake Superior and the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area for both recreational and commercial vessels.
RDC does nor receive any funds from the Local Services Board, surviving solely on revenues obtained from operations
Superior Country is a member based, non-profit Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) currently headquartered in Red Rock, ON with a catchment area of approximately 104,000km2.
The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area Is located along the north shore of Lake Superior and began the establishment process on September 1, 2015.
The LSNMCA is the largest freshwater marine protected area in the world.
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Rossport Marina Improvement Update
Rossport, ON – Rossport Marina Non-Profit Inc., locally known as the Rossport Dock Committee (RDC), announced the achievement of the next step in its guiding document - The Rossport Marina Scoping Plan: A Three-Year Roadmap to Sustainable Operation and Site Development. This step is the completion of a structural assessment of the Rossport dock and boat launch. The assessment was completed in January 2022 by JML Engineering (Thunder Bay), with assistance from Ontario’s Superior Country, a local non-profit destination marketing organization, and was made possible with funding from Parks Canada and Superior North CFDC. The purpose of the structural assessment was to identify the current physical state of the dock and boat launch areas, and make recommendations for repairs. “The original dock was constructed over 40 years ago” explained Paul Turpin, RDC President. “Repairs have been completed over that time, but the dock has deteriorated significantly in the past five years. The dock is an important part of the community and region and provides a gateway to the National Marine Conservation Area.”
The results of the assessment were reviewed by the RDC and note that the Rossport dock is in poor to very poor condition. The engineering report states "Based upon the very poor condition of the timber cribs, the dock has reached the end of its useful design life." The findings of the assessment note that "the east-west leg of the dock is no longer effectively connected to the crib structure below." Changes in docking at the marina in the short term include the closure to all tying up to the east-west leg of the dock. “There continues to be limited docking space on the north-south leg of the dock and services (pump-out, water, docking) will be accessible on that section. The boat launch is open and will operate as it always has.” stated Harbourmaster Bill Collinson. The costs and process for rehabilitation of the current dock are estimated to be more than half the cost of a replacement structure. The RDC has decided that replacement of the dock is the most sustainable option. Cathy Collinson, Secretary/Treasurer of the RDC stated “A new dock allows the committee to consider increased berthing, improved launch facilities, and an improved visitor experience at the Rossport Marina – all priorities identified during the community consultation process held in 2021.” The next step is to complete a Land Asset Management Plan (LAMP). This plan is the pre-design study which will include geotechnical work, drawings of the proposed marina layout (washrooms, kiosk, fuel installation, kayak launch, two boat launches, parking, etc.), wharf layout, and costs for all proposed capital projects. The Rossport Dock Committee, in partnership with Parks Canada, has embarked on the process of completing the LAMP in partnership with FORM Studio, Thunder Bay. The LAMP will be completed over the fall and winter of 2022-23. Upon development of the LAMP, a Strategic Plan will be completed which will outline the most efficient and sustainable practices for management of the Rossport marina going forward.
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Contact:
Cathy Collinson
Secretary/Treasurer
Rossport Marina