Minden Hills township staff have now tabled a report saying the Bob Lake Association’s (BLA) plan for a new public boat launch will have to be altered, costing more than $180,000 – a far cry from the association’s $30,000 price tag.

 

However, the association has fired back saying much of the costs in the report are either over-inflated or for things that aren’t needed.

 

The report, by planner Ian Clendening, was tabled at the Jan. 25 Minden Hills council meeting. The associaton offered its own response Jan. 30. The staff report says Claude Brown Road would cut through the boat launch area, creating traffic congestion and safety and enforcement issues. Staff noted the site is partially on private land so may require buying property. They’re worried about noise and lights affecting nearby properties. They said they would also have to cut vegetation including mature trees on a lake already deemed at-capacity. They added the actual ramp would have to be wider than what was proposed. Further, they have tacked on legal and planning costs as well as contingency costs.

 

Dave Roberts, on behalf of the assocaition, responsed in general that, “the BLA firmly believes, in contrast to many of the conclusions within the report, that our original proposal is the best solution available to restore public boat launch access for Bob Lake. It provides the lowest cost option as it does not require any land acquisition, it’s the only option clear of public right-of-way issues, and is by far the most environmentall-friendly option given it will avoid the inevitable construction of many future private launches.”