Plan tabled to develop former Holyrood Pond Park near the Gaskiers

Plans to redevelop the long-shuttered former Provincial Park at Holyrood Pond into a park for RVs appears to be afoot again.

This week, the Department of Environment reported the registration of a proposal to construct a recreational vehicle park with a day park at Holyrood Pond in Gaskiers, which is located on Route 90, in St. Mary’s Bay. The proposed site is 23.5 hectares in size.

The deadline for public comments is August 26, 2022. Minister Bernard Davis’ decision on the application is due by September 4, 2022.

There have been a number of attempts since the closure of the park to reactivate the former campground or convert it to an RV park. Holyrood Pond is the largest inland body of water on the Avalon Peninsula. Holyrood Pond was among a number of provincial parks closed by the Liberal government in the 1990s as it dealt with a huge financial crunch in the wake of the cod moratorium and the fallout of heavy borrowing having been done by the government it replaced.

The people behind the latest proposal, Frank and Rennie Tobin, plan to rename the park, Serenity Shores at Holyrood Pond. It would contain more than 32 sites for RVs, motorhomes, trailers and caravans, as well as seven small cabins and 22 “glamping” tents. There will also be five outdoor portable bathrooms and a boat dock for canoes.

The development will be conducted over five phases in as many years, according to the document filed with the Environment Department. The proponents estimate the construction will employ two to 10 workers , and once open, employ anywhere from one to six workers depending on the amount of business during the tourist season.

Witless Bay awards tender for softball field

By Mark Squibb/July 29, 2022

It’s good news for softball players in Witless Bay.

Council has awarded a tender to O’Brien’s Trucking for $38,525, HST included, to start upgrades on the pitch.

Councillor Jacob Hayden said the improvements will bring the softball field up to standard.

The work is to be completed with federal funding. The Town received $120,000 from ACOA in February to “enhance outdoor space to improve accessibility and safety and increase recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.”

Upgrades are to include new playground equipment, ballfield renovations and trail system improvements.

Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard and Gerard Dunne declared conflicts of interest and did not vote on the matter.

In other news, council is looking to move its dog park, pending a feasibility study on the cost of such a venture.

“We’ve had multiple requests since we’ve come into office about better access to our dog park,” said Hayden. “People have requested that we move it as well, into a better area.”

Hayden added that folks from neighbouring communities enjoy bringing their pooches to the park.

Councillor Alex Troake said if the cost is reasonable, the Town ought to look at relocating the park to the playground area, which is something, he added, residents have requested.

The motion to move the dog park, pending a feasibility study, passed unanimously.

Members of the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department unveiled the new fire department logo earlier this month. It was designed by Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard with Fire Chief Jack Gatherall, Assistant Chief Shane Cole, and other department members. Left to right are Shane Cole, Sylvester Cahill, Adam Doyle, Chris Courtney, Steph Croft, Jeff Kelly, Chrystal Kelly, Wes Learning, McKenna Walsh, Jack Gatherall, Daniel Vickers, Nick Legge and Caitlin Yard. Missing from the photo are firefighters Dylan Whitty- Lundrigan, Connor O’ Driscoll, Jarrett Waddleton, Michael Clarke, Zack Clarke, Chris Hollett, Jeremy Legge, Andrew Gibbons, Rodney Norris, Danielle Dinn, Patrick Maloney, Brandon Clarke, Dave Ryan, Kenneth Penney, Daniel Coady, Cyril Dalton, and Lee Dunne. Submitted photo

Witless Bay, Holyrood to split Witless Bay Line fire coverage

By Mark Squibb/July 22, 2022

The Town of Witless Bay will work with NL 911 as well as provincial Fire and Emergency Services to extend the Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department’s service boundary approximately 10kms across the Witless Bay Line.

The request to amend the NL911 map and Witless Bay Volunteer Fire Department response district was discussed and unanimously approved during last week’s council meeting.

“So, what will happen is, if you’re halfway across the Witless Bay Line and you have an accident, and you call 911, all calls go to the RCMP to determine whether or not the fire department is needed,” explained Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard. “And you have to remember, that RCMP officer could be in Trepassey, he’s not on the scene, so it’s hard for him to make that call. By extending our coverage across the line, that will drastically improve safety, and faster response times. Because we have a lot of residents who travel for pleasure, for work, and right now there’s very little coverage on that line.”

Yard said the Holyrood Fire Department has agreed to cover the remainder of the Witless Bay Line.

“The Witless Bay Fire Department has a good working relationship with Holyrood, and Holyrood are going to take the other 50 percent of the line on the other side,” said Yard. “So, both departments will notify each other in the event of a call, to ensure that somebody responds and so that way we can ensure coverage for all of the line, which right now currently doesn’t exist.”

Bay Bulls defers Crown Land application over watershed concern

By Mark Squibb/July 22, 2022

Bay Bulls may see construction begin on a new subdivision — if it turns out the land is not inside a watershed.

Last week, council voted to defer a Crown Land application for a parcel of land that the Division of Water Resources, an arm of the provincial Department of Environment, says may exist in a potential watershed.

“There is an applicant that is seeking Crown Land, the property is in the area of Cemetery Lane West and also borders the Lower Path Road,” explained CAO Jennifer Aspell. “There is a potential watershed area that has been identified through mapping through the Water Resources Division and, so the decision is being made to refer the Crown Land application back to advise that the Town is deferring any approval until Water Resources reviews the potential watershed area and identifies if there are any concerns.”

The current proposal, said Aspell, is for a 36-lot subdivision.

 “It would be important to note that we don’t have engineering drawings, or anything detailed at this point,” said Aspell. “It’s a very high-level plan that’s accompanying the application – nothing beyond that.”

The motion to defer was approved unanimously.

Bay Bulls councillors told to take ATIPP training

By Mark Squibb/July 22, 2022

Members of Bay Bulls council and town staff will be undergoing mandatory ATIPP training later this summer following a recommendation from the Office of the Information and Privacy Commission.

“There was a privacy complaint filed, and following an investigation by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the recommendation that has been sent is that council must complete ATIPP training,” explained Town CAO Jennifer Aspell during the last public meeting. She added the office had followed up with the Town looking for an update.

Aspell said based on scheduled availability, training will likely take place towards the end of August.

Councillor Jason Sullivan asked if the training is mandatory, and Aspell said that it will be.

Sullivan, who said he wouldn’t be in Bay Bulls for the end of August, argued that the Office recommended, not demanded, that all council members attend the training.

“But anyway, you can go ahead and do it,” said Sullivan.

Acting Mayor Jason O’Brien said the Town could look at other options, and Aspell agree they can look at rescheduling the training.

O’Brien called for a vote, and councillors Keith O’Driscoll and Shannon O’Driscoll both voted in favour of the recommendation. Neither Sullivan, nor the Acting Mayor could be heard to register their votes on the motion, though O’Brien deemed it had passed.

Two sections of the Southern Shore Highway between Cappahayden and Portugal Cove South are in the process of being rebuilt, with new culverts spanning brooks and streams as part of the work. Farrell’s Construction of CBS has the contract for the work, which includes about 10 kms of high way altogether.

O'Brien steps down

By Mark Squibb/July 15, 2022

Neil O’ Brien is no longer mayor of Bay Bulls.

“As of July 8, Mayor Neil O’Brien has put in his notice of resignation from his position on council,” said Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien at the beginning of this week’s public council meeting. “This is effective as of July 8 as per the Municipalities Act 1999. Deputy Mayor Jason O’Brien will assume the duties of mayor until council decides on how to precede to fill that position.”

The announcement was made at the start of Wednesday’s meeting, and council then carried on with regular business without further discussion on the matter.

Former Mayor O’Brien was not present at the meeting. He, along with the four other current members of council, was elected this past October in the 2021 municipal election.

Residents voted out all previous members of council, including former mayor Harold Mullowney, who had held a seat on council for nearly three decades until losing out this past election, in favour in a new slate of council members.

Out of the five successful candidates, Neil O’Brien landed square in the middle, coming in third place according to the vote count.

Another shuffle at Witless Bay Town Hall

The Town of Witless Bay has appointed Town Clerk Geraldine Caul to the position of Acting Town Manager in light of Town Manager Shawn Kavanagh’s recent leave of absence.

Caul has been on leave since at least last summer, and as of July 14 was still listed on the town’s website as being ‘On leave.’

The Town had hired Katherine Doyle in May to fill the Town Clerk position in Caul’s absence.

Kavanagh, meanwhile, was hired in February of this year to replace former Town manager Kevin Kelley, who quit in October, just a month after he had been hired to replace chief administrative officer Pat Curran.

Kavanagh went on his leave of absence in June, and told the Irish Loop Post he wasn’t at liberty to discuss the matter further.

The Irish Loop Post tried to reach Doyle, Caul, Mayor Trevor Croft, and Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard inquiring as to whether Kavanagh was still being paid while on leave, but did not receive a response. A call to the Town Hall was not answered.