COBDEN — Three area municipalities are exploring the possibility of acquring the abandoned CN rail line as one parcel,m even though the company has several parcels listed.
It’s hoped this land can be purchased without money exchanging hands, said Councillor Chris Olmstead at the Aug. 19 Whitewater Region recreation committee meeting.
He didn’t want to release too much information regarding the preliminary dicussions, because nothing has been signed.
The idea is to get the abandoned rail line that runs from near Portage due Fort, Quebec and goes to Algonmquin Park, he said.
The municipalities involved in the consortium are Whitewater Region, Laurentian Valley and Pembroke.
“We are in negotiations now to acquire this corridor without actually having to purchase it, it would be tax receipts and what-not,” he said. “We will acquire it as a whole or none of it.”
This rail line would definitely be an asset to four-season tourism, especially in Whitewater Region, Coun. Olmstead said.
There are concerns in purchasing the land, including the fact it may be contaminated, he said.
“We want to have it inspected, because we don’t want to take on a liability,” Coun. Olmstead said.
CN will be asked to sign an agreement that it’s not contaminated and sign-off on that there is nothing wrong with the infrastructure as well, he stated.
The inter-provicnial bridge is an asset and a liability, so that has to be carefully discussed, he said. But, there is an awful lot of traffic from the Quebec side, which makes it a huge asset.
He noted during the free trail weekend from Quebec to Ontario, “the number of snowmobilers who come in are in the thousands.”
The liability would be the upkeep, he added, noting, it’s believed there is funding for this. It would not be a burden to taxpayers, he said, adding, different associations have insurance that could cover that as well as help with up-keep.
Coun. Olmstead said the consortium is getting together to work on an agreement that would force CN to deal with the group as a whole.
While it was noted the last kilometre of trail to hook up to the current snowmobile trail is in Killaloe, Hagarty and Richards Township, which isn’t involved with the consortium, it wouldn’t be a problem because it can be looped around a certain way that portion isn’t required.
As for funding, Coun. Olmstead said the province
won’t give money to help acquire the land, but there is funding for Canada 150 celebrations, and this type of asset would fall under the funding umbrella.
The snowmobile associations are hoping to connect trails from coast to coast, and especially complete a four-season loop around the province, Coun. Olmstead explained.
The motion passed by the rec committee, and later at the council meeting was that council sign a memorandum of understanding Stage 1 to acquire the abandoned CN Rail Right-of-Way in partnership with the Township of Laurentian Valley and the City of Pembroke.
