‘We’re in the final mile’
Port developer updates CBRM councillors, staff on proposed container terminal
The head of the firm with exclusive marketing rights to the Port of Sydney has reiterated his optimism that the winds of change will soon blow across the deep-water harbour.
But Alberta Barbusci, CEO of Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP), says a few final pieces of the puzzle need to fall into place before the development of a container port and logistics park can proceed.
“We remain positive and we are very optimistic,” Barbusci told the Cape Breton Post following a Wednesday afternoon meeting with a number of highranking Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) staff and nine of the municipality’s 12 councillors.
“We’re in the final mile, we’re in the red zone, we see it, but we have to get across the line — but there’s been no surprises, our agreement is in place and it is in our hands to deliver those final pieces of the puzzle that has many moving parts, but we’re getting very close now and we’re very, very confident.”
Although Barbusci and CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke both predicted positive news about port development would be forthcoming in early 2018, the former says autumn is now a more realistic target.
“We are gearing up for the fall, there are a couple of pieces that need to be locked in but they are being discussed — we’re in serious negotiations with various shippers and we need to finalize the rail piece, the rail needs to be upgraded, but the report just came out and we’re
working with that study, there is a commitment and we expect the province to step up,” said the Montréal-based businessman, following the meeting that was held at a downtown Sydney hotel.
“Our partners have not wavered and are still solidly behind the development and we have a great consortium, a great group of solid companies, and it’s all privately funded other than the infrastructure piece, so we’re on our own.”
But while Barbusci’s information session contained little
in the way of breaking news, it was a positive step for Coun. Amanda McDougall, one of several elected municipal representatives who have spoken up about the secrecy surrounding the proposed port development.
“It’s good that Albert reached out to us to have a meeting and let us know where things stand — it was more or less just a check-in,” said the District 8 councillor.
“It’s been known that there are some of us on council, including
myself, who have had questions throughout this process, so I do appreciate having a forum to ask questions when I am concerned about different things.”
McDougall acknowledged that she doesn’t expect to be privy to all of the details involved in the marketing side of the development due to confidentiality rules. However, she said her primary responsibility is to the people within the municipality.
“I have concerns when I can’t answer to the public — I take my role as the voice of the people very, very sincerely and very seriously,” said the firstterm councillor from Main-a-Dieu.
“I will always, always, always continue to ask hard questions to make sure those protections are in place for the people of CBRM.”
Meanwhile, a Chinese “working group” that was expected to visit Sydney early in the New Year has yet to do so. However, Barbusci says the Chinese are still part of the game plan.
The developer also stated that the partners are prepared to proceed with short-sea shipment down the coast although he admitted the ideal scenario would include an operative railroad across Cape Breton.
The province and the American rail company that owns the tracks are nearing the end of a one-year agreement that temporarily preserves the Cape Breton (St. Peters Junction to Sydney) portion of the line.
That deal has the Nova Scotia government paying Genesee and Wyoming $60,000 a month to reimburse operations expenses, while in return the rail company agreed not to apply to abandon the line.
The last train rumbled across Cape Breton in late 2015.