Haviland Bay wants old Sault marina docks

The docks have reached the end of their useful life and city officials are concerned about environmental issues and cost involved in disposing of the old pressure-treated timber

Geese take an early-morning dip at Bellevue Marina on Aug. 29, 2017. Michael Purvis/SooToday

Haviland Bay is fighting to save its harbour and wants Sault Ste. Marie to donate two decommissioned docks from Bellevue Park to the cause.

Batchawana Bay Safe Harbours Association (BBSHA) has asked for the old docks, which are being pulled from Bellevue Marina as part of a capital dock rebuilding project.

The group wants to repair and reconfigure the docks for use at Haviland Bay's Gitchee Gumee Marina.

"The BBSHA, which began in 2007 and has become more active after learning that closure was being thought of, has been working to maintain and provide a safe harbour for seasonal boaters and also an emergency spot for transients traversing into Lake Superior, both to and from the St. Marys River waterway," says Rick Borean, the city's supervisor of community services.

"This marina also benefits Roberta Bondar Marina transient boaters as some frequent the marina before proceeding further into Lake Superior," Borean says in a written report to Mayor Christian Provenzano and city councillors.

The city says the docks have reached the end of their useful life and there's concern about the environmental issues and cost involved in disposing of the old pressure-treated timber.

Very little money would be gained by trying to sell the docks.

"In addition to the financial savings of disposal [and] potential environmental concerns, this donation will also allow us to be a good neighbour on the waterways as it will help another marina to continue providing service to many boaters, some of which we see in our own municipal marinas throughout the season," Borean says.

BBSHA is willing to pick up the stacked docks in the Bellevue Marina parking lot.

It will accept them in 'as is' condition and sign a liability agreement protecting the city in case of damage or injury while the docks are being transfered.

Sault Ste. Marie City Council will be asked to consider the BBSHA request at next week's council meeting.

The meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday.