Municipal units meeting to discuss Mariners Centre expansion

Expansion is third top regional priority behind Yarmouth Airport and ferry terminal

Representatives from the Municipality of Yarmouth and Municipality of Argyle will be meeting with the Town of Yarmouth on Aug. 29 in a closed meeting to discuss the next steps to be taken with regard to a proposed Mariners Centre expansion.

A $30 million expansion is pro- posed to create a new home for the Yarmouth YMCA (including a new pool) and the Yarmouth Curling Club.

Several years ago, the three municipal units identified the expansion as the third top regional priority behind the Yarmouth Airport and the ferry terminal.

Trevor Cunningham, a Municipality of Yarmouth councilor, says he was pleased to see the invite from Yarmouth’s Mayor Pam Mood and glad to see that the pro- ject might begin moving forward as “this council has wanted to do for a good long time.”

“Certainly, I’ll be fully in support of the project. I can’t wait,” he said.

Councillor Daniel Allen said he agreed with Cunningham and was looking forward to some consultations and what “we as a group can come up with.”

Municipality of Argyle CAO Alain Muise says that although Argyle is not one of the owners of the Mariners Centre, council has always spoken positively about the positive impacts of the facility.

“I’m sure they would be open to any sort of discussion,” he said.

The Municipality of Argyle committed to a multi-year funding arrangement recently and also to capital requests needed for items like a Zamboni, etc.

The Town of Yarmouth approved a motion in July to invite the other two municipal units to a meeting to talk about the direc- tion of a possible Mariners Centre expansion and/or other recreational needs.

In making the July 12 motion the mayor noted there has been one key step missing since the completion of the Mariners Centre feasibility report exploring an expansion.

The next step that has not been taken by any of the three partners is to meet and discuss what we are willing to commit to,” said Mayor Pam Mood.