Centre Wellington council has reached an agreement with One Axe Pursuits, of Guelph, for using the township’s lands for commercial purposes.
Council has been working on the project since February, and on Monday at its committee of the whole meeting, it approved changes that it had sought in the agreement last month.
The township’s Parks and Recreation department has been dealing with a number of issues related to the use of township lands.
One Axe Pursuits uses Victoria Park in Elora for ziplining and rapelling. That use attracted some complaints from a neighbour, a doctor, who works shifts and needs to be able to sleep. That is not easy with adventure seekers yelling and the sounds echoing down the Irvine River Gorge.
One of the sites will be moved.
As well, all other user groups pay fees to use township lands, and Recreation Director Andie Goldie said there is no reason other groups should not do likewise. The companies were already insuring the township against accidents and liability.
Council agreed to charge fees, and that caused one commercial operator to move his business away. Upward Bound Adventures operated a hot air balloon business from Bissell Park since the mid-1990s.
Its owners told council that no company like theirs pays to use municipal property, and since their season was so short, they had to decide quickly, and so they moved to St. Jacobs.
They asked for and received permission to use the park until the end of July.
Township solicitor Sarah Jacobs told council that One Axe owner Frederick Schuett, has agreed to the changes.
They include year round use, and permission for extra time for set-up and take-down of equipment.
Council also heard that Equinox Adventures, of Toronto, had only recently learned about the changing status for using Centre Wellington lands (due to internet difficulties and an email server being down).
The company offers whitewater kayaking, canoeing, rock and ice climbing, sea kayaking, river and high angle rescue at various places across Ontario, and uses Centre Wellington only occasionally.
Jacobs said other than parking, it is satisfied with the arrangement being proposed.
Jacobs told council in preliminary talks with Equinox, it had some issues with parking being too far away.
The curling club would be used only in the off season, but the company felt that was a long walk for its customers.
Equinox has yet to reach a formal agreement with the township.
Jacobs noted the companies agree to pay $45 per day for use of the township lands.
Linda and Ian Rankine, who live near Victoria Park, sent a letter that stated asking the operators to park at the community centre and curling club is appropriate.
The Rankines also asked when the Grand River Conservation Authority will present its study to council about the impact of rock climbing on the rocks and protected vegetation in the Gorge.
“There are rare plant species and ancient cedars mentioned in studies prepared by the Conservation Authority. Both council and the GRCA have obligations under the Heritage River Agreement signed some years before.”
One Axe had resisted moving one of its sites simply because it did not want to interfere with the vegetation growing on the cliffs.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj told Jacobs, “I’m glad you got it resolved.”
