The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is proceeding with the demolition of six vacant buildings on a Niska Road property at an expected cost of about $200,000.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) owns about 160 acres of land on the north and south side of Niska Road containing natural resource features (cold water fishery, provincially significant wetland, floodplain and the Speed River) and agricultural land holdings.
The GRCA purchased the 305 Niska Road property in 1977 and leased the land to the Niska Wildlife Foundation (NWF) until 2014. In 2014, the GRCA took possession of the land and commenced site cleanup, including the removal of a large quantity of fencing.
“There are seven buildings on the property, six of which are in poor condition and require demolition,” stated a recent GRCA report.
The authority will evaluate the seventh building, a former workshop, to determine if it can be “repurposed” and relocated to another GRCA site.
The report indicates that despite “no trespassing” signs, “the buildings have been broken into several times which raises safety concerns.”
The GRCA estimates the cost to demolish the six buildings will be $180,000 to $230,000, not including the decommissioning of a well and septic system, removal of asbestos, removal of any smaller shelter buildings or “other factors that may complicate” removal.
The GRCA will seek permission from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) to allow the work to be funded through the GRCA land sale reserve.
“If this funding request is denied, alternative sources of funding would need to be identified,” the report states.
Once the buildings are demolished, the GRCA will apply to reassess the taxation of the property.
GRCA spokesman Dave Schultz said demolition of the six buildings was approved by the GRCA board on May 22 but it’s unlikely any work will take place before fall.
He noted it will take “several weeks” to get results from a hazardous materials assessment (“looking for asbestos, mold, etc.”) required to prepare the tender and then “about three months to advertise the tender, receive bids, select a winner and then get board approval.”
