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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADMIN-19-87 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE �, rti REPORTY File # Res. # By-Law # METING: General Purpose and Administration Committee DATE: July 6 1967 REPORT #: SAMN. -U-87 FILE #: WUCT: Shoreline Protection and Slope Stabilization Lakeshore Road RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1 . That Report ADMIN. 19 - 87 be received; 2. That the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority be requested to submit an application on behalf of the Town of Newcastle for financial assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources for shoreline protection works on a portion of the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Town of' Newcastle from Newcastle Harbour to a point approximately 1100 feet to the east. 3. That the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham be requested to approve the application for financial assistance for shoreline protection as outlined in Recommendation #2; 4. That the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham be notified that the Town of Newcastle will accept as a chargeback the benefitting municipality's share of the cost of the shoreline protection project if approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources; and 5. That a copy of Report ADMIN. 19 - 87 be forwarded to Mrs. Heather Rutherford, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and the Regional Municipality of Durham. ADMIN. 19-87 P age 2 REPORT Recently, Council considered the matter of the erosion of the Lake Ontario Shoreline east of the Newcastle Villlage Harbour which is threatening Lakeshore Road (refer to report WD-it-87) . This issue was raised following dialogue with staff of the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority wherein the Authority offered to request funding on behalf of the Town from the Ministry of Natural Resources for shoreline protection work from Newcastle Harbour to a point approximately 1100 feet to the east. The cost of such remedial work was estimated at $252,000 in the mid 1980's and provided as part of an engineering study in order to identify a dollar amount for rectifying an aggravated situation in order to maintain a desirable east-west road connection along this portion of the Lake Ontario Shoreline in the Town. In considering the above mentioned report and receiving a presentation from Mrs. Heather Rutherford, Chief Administrative Officer, Ganaraska Conservation Authority, Council questioned various aspects related to remedial work costs, timing and likelihood of funding from the Province to fund such work, and any commitment from the Town related to any expenditure regarding the subject project. Prior to dealing with the matter, Council referred the matter back to staff for further review and subsequent report. In reviewing the matter in more detail, Town staff has liaised with staff of the Conservation Authority and the Region's Finance Department in order, to address the various questions raised by Council. Discussions with staff of the Authority have clarified the aspects of cost as identified above. Of course, the cost estimates would have to be updated to present dollar values. In addition, staff discussions have indicated that applications for funding to the Ministry of Natural Resources for various works in this regard are numerous and that the approval of only a handful of such applications can be expected in any one year. Nevertheless, if this project for the Town was approved by the Province, the benefitting municipality (in this case the Town of Newcastle) would be responsible for 35% of the cost, that being $88 200 in 1986 dollars. ADMIN. 19-87 Page 3 Discussions with staff of the Region's Finance Department have indicated that the Region's policy regarding capital expenditure related to erosion control and slope stabilization projects through respective Conservation Authorities requires the benefitting area municipality to raise monies for such projects. in similar circumstances, the Region as the member municipality of various Conservation Authorities has accepted the designation of benefitting municipality for such projects provided that the applicable projects benefitting the various area municipalities are approved by the respective municipality. In addition, the Region requires that notification be given to the Region of Durham that the respective area municipality will accept, as a charge back, the cost of such a project. Accordingly, this notification would be required from the Town of Newcastle for the 3ubject -project. At the present time, it would appear to be in the Town's best interest to pursue an application for, funding regarding the subject project from the Provincial Government in that a considerable portion of the monies would be provided by the senior level of government if the project is approved. if this was the case, methods of funding the remaining portion of the cost could be explored in order to minimize the impact on the Town's tax base. This would include pursuing the applicability of additional funds through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to curb shoreline erosion announced in the Provincial Treasurer's recent budget statement. Furthermore, any costs which would in the end be the responsibility of the Town would have to be budgeted for and could be staged over a period of at least two years. If after application, the funding of the project is not approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the matter will require re-examination regarding possible, albeit less suitable solutions in order to reduce the overall cost to the Town. ADMIN. 19-87 Page 4 . I The recommendations contained in this report provide a course of action which is felt to be appropriate and requires no expenditure by the Town at this time. If the funding of the project is approved by the Ministry it would then be necessary for the Town to consider methods of funding its share of the cost. Respectfully submitted, Lawrenc Kotseff, ist Chief A T'nistrative Officer