Tar ponds meeting continue this week
Topic is future use of site
By Tanya Collier Macdonald
Cape Breton Post
Wed., Mar. 28, 2007
SYDNEY - Getting a cleaner understanding of what residents would like to
see replace the
tarponds and coke ovens sites is a goal of consultants meeting with local
stakeholders until Friday.
" It's the start of optimism," said Ann Wilkie, project manager for the
engineering company CBCL LTD. Monday, a team of consultants met with
members of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce and JCI, as part of the
brainstorming week.
Wilkie said a lot of work needs to be done before the firm has
recommendations to be
delivered to a steering committee in May.
"We have no answers at this point in time."
The possibility of creating a new economic gateway for this region
excited chamber
members who spend more than an hour with the consulting team during
Monday's luncheon.
"This is one of the biggest opportunities that has been presented to us
in decades," said
Owen Fitzgerald, executive vice-president of the Sydney and Area Chamber
of Commerce. "We have to do this right."
Stephen Tobin, project manager for JCI, said the group participated in
the discussion
because of the importance the sites future uses will have on the younger
demographic.
"We want to make sure there is an opportunity for youth to have
valuable input into the
development project," he said. "We are competing federally for skilled
young professionals, so this project must provide us with a greater
leverage to attract youth to this area. Project infrastructure must assist
in entrepreneurial opportunities for youth."
CBCL is also working with Xstrata on the Donkin mine and is guiding the
Sydney harbour
study.
Wilkie said all of the lands are within the same geographical area and
the focus is in on the
future.
tcmacdonald@cbpost.com
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