Collingwood Council has been presented with a proposed plan to upgrade the harbour to allow for future recreational use by both local residents and visitors. The purpose of the report, prepared by Baird & Associates, was to take a proactive look at possible future scenarios for the harbour area and to develop a plan that would assit the Town of Collingwood in developing an action plan for moving forward. The notional plan is a conceptual idea that demonstrates the intentions of the Town to promote socially, environmentally and economically sound uses within the Harbourlands. The study was primarily focused on the eastern portion of the inner harbour and is not a master plan study. The planned upgrades would make Collingwood Harbour a more "boater friendly" place, calling for additional docking facilities and marine services.

A floating boardwalk (approximately 3m to 3.7m wide) is proposed along the west side of the Launch Basin. The boardwalk would be fully accessible to the public. Two ramps would be provided down to the boardwalk from the public promenade alongside the Launch Basin; at least one of the ramps would be handicap accessible.

The visiting moorings would require staffing to control docking and provide security. Initially, the proposal calls for daytime mooring opportunities only, with no overnight docking permitted due to concerns raised by FRAM regarding noise impacts on the residents of the Shipyards.

The plan calls to make the floading boardwalk available for up to 12 visiting boats (of approximately 12.2 m in length each) to tie-up.

Another floating boardwalk is proposed along the westerly side of the Dry Dock. The boardwalk would be accessible to the public and would be more modest in scale than the proposed Launch Basin boardwalk. It is proposed that this Dry Dock boardwalk would be reserved for non-motorized boating such as canoes and Kayaks.

The Collingwood Yacht Club has proposed expanding the number of mooring slips available in deeper water in the harbour by adding a floating breakwater with attached docks on the outside of the Elevator Wharf. Presently the CYC has 104 to 108 moorings that are fully booked on a seasonal basis. At the present time, there is no room for the club to expand within the existing basin without displacing the sailing and dragon boat and canoe clubs adjacent to the ferry Dock. The proposed makeover for the harbour would be seen as a good news opportunity for the existing Dragon Boat, Canoe Club and Rowing Club.

Lighthouse Point and Cranberry Village operate marinas adjacent to Collingwood Harbour. Cranberry Marina operates at or near capacity with 129 serviced slips, hydro, fuel, sewage pump-out, repairs, winter storage, washrooms, laundry and a boat launch. Private marinas exist at Mariner's Haven, Lighthouse Point and Rupert's Landing.

A public presentation of the plan will be held on Wednesday June 3rd at town hall from 4pm to 8pm.

View The Entire Proposal.

The Town of Collingwood had been presented with two other waterfront plans in 1988 and in 1996.