Lakefield Herald Special Report

TSW “significantly underfunded” - group

by Simon Conolly

The Trent Severn Waterway is significantly underfunded, and is suffering “death by 1,000 cuts,” according to Brian Hunt, Chair of Voices for the Trent Severn Waterway.

Mr. Hunt addressed about 50 people who turned out for a public meeting arranged by Voices at the Buckhorn Community Centre Sunday morning.

The Panel on the Future of the Trent Severn Waterway estimated the value of all waterway assets at $1.4 billion, Mr. Hunt said.

To properly maintain the system, 13 per cent of that value is needed annually.

Even at 10 per cent, $140 million is needed annually, but the TSW survives on an annual budget of $15 million, plus an $80 million investment in capital projects over the next five years.

The lack of funding has direct implications for the TSW’s ability to properly manage water flows through the system, Mr. Hunt said.

The waterway includes 160 dams and water control structures.

In the past, four or five crews were employed to add or remove logs from the dams. Now there is only one.

So instead of single logs being added or removed, multiple logs will be removed or replaced at one time, meaning less efficient and effective control of water levels.

Funding solutions must be developed at the operations level, Mr. Hunt said, pointing out that money raised by the TSW is retained by the TSW.

Voices is organizing a workshop session to be held this fall to brainstorm ideas for increasing funding.

A $10 charge for any boat launched on the TSW was one example.

A question was asked regarding Voices relationship with the Coalition for Equitable Water Flow.

CEWF’s membership comes from the reservoir and flow through lakes which are used by the TSW to maintain navigation depths in the canal lakes.

At the first public meeting called by Voices in 2009, friction between the two groups was evident.

Al Heritage, a member of the Voices board, responded to the question, saying “The important thing is to speak with one voice. We have agreement in principle and further meetings are planned to work out the details.”

Voices seeks to build broad-based support from residents, cottage associations, Chambers of Commerce and businesses along the waterway.

Return to The Herald Home Page