Marina Massawippi to assume management of Ayer’s Cliff public beach
Management of the 11 acres of beachfront property in Ayer’s Cliff purchased just over a year ago by the Massawippi Regional Park Board (La régie du Parc régional Massawippi) will be undertaken by newly formed company Marina Massawippi, owned by local Alex Marcotte in partnership with environmental group Everblue Massawippi.
The land was sold to the régie by les Pères Servites for roughly $1.5 million.
While five municipalities (Ayer’s Cliff, Hatley Township, Sainte-catherine-de-hatley, Hatley, North Hatley) make up the régie, North Hatley opted out of the land purchase, which resulted in Ayer’s Cliff assuming twofifths of the cost.
Rather than take on the management of the beach, which would entail a substantial infrastructure investment and clean-up, régie President and Ayer’s Cliff Mayor Alec van Zuiden told The Record the régie put out a call for proposals to manage the beach.
“I believe the RIPRM sent the offer out to five entities and Alex Marcotte was the only one to respond and with the help/alliance he previously negotiated with Everblue Massawippi,” van Zuiden commented.
“We would have had to hire someone,” van Zuiden said, if the régie were to take on the management of the beach itself. He added that the régie, comprised of four mayors and town managers, does not have the competencies or availability to operate a marina business.
“His (Alex Marcotte) parents already have a marina by the old bowling alley,” van Zuiden said, explaining that Marcotte has the experience required, and
is a local. The agreement is for Marcotte’s company, Marina Massawippi, to manage the operation of the beach for three years.
Marcotte paid the régie $15,000 for the concession of the property.
“It’s a three-year contract, I’m doing what I can with what I’ve got,” Marcotte said.
Marcotte plans to invest roughly $400,000 into the business, with $145,000 going towards a new dock with 32 boat slips. He will also invest in 10 new pontoons operating with a maximum of 25 horsepower, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards which will be available for rent.
Marcotte is partnered with Everblue Massawippi, although the organization has no financial stake in the operation.
Michèle Gérin, executive director of Everblue Massawippi, told The Record the organization wanted to make sure the beach didn’t fall into the hands of someone whose only interest was profit.
“We’re sharing our competencies,” Gérin said, explaining Marcotte has the marina experience, and Everblue Massawippi has the water quality and environment at heart.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” Gérin said.
“The docks are going in over the weekend,” Marcotte said. The new rental pontoons should arrive before June 24.
Locals who book before June are assured a boat slip, Marcotte added.
As soon as he got the green light a few weeks ago, Marcotte has been at the beach working on cleanup. While he is currently balancing his time between his new business and his parents’ marina, Marcotte said he has already removed four large containers of debris from the beach.
Because the majority of the property lies in a 20-year flood plain, Marcotte is limited in what he can do. Any structures will need to be portable, he said, considering new bathroom facilities and other small structures.
“The lake can rise a metre in 24 hours,” Gérin pointed out.
When asked about how revenues generated at the beach will be divided, Marcotte explained that in addition to the $15,000 he paid the régie for the management of the beach for three years, he also committed to pay the régie $10,000 in his first year of operation, and $15,000 for the two following years.
“He (Marcotte) won’t get rich,” Gérin said, addressing concerns that the régie could have handed over a potential cash cow to a private business.
“Anyone who is unhappy doesn’t know the dossier,” Gérin said, pointing out that the operation will require a fulltime lifeguard, as well as employees to run the boat launch and rentals.
“We need someone from 5 a.m. till 8 p.m. seven days a week,” she said, adding that insurance alone for the business will cost $15,000.
“The college was losing money for years,” she added.
Marcotte said feedback about the new business plan has been positive so far. “It’s a lot cleaner already,” he has heard from locals.
When asked what will happen if the business doesn’t pan out for Marina Massawippi, Marcotte said he will bring his rental equipment to another location and sell the docks to the régie.