Last Tuesday, the economic development committee of Gravenhurst town council agreed in a recorded vote to negotiate a lease for dock space in Gravenhurst Bay to allow the operation of a float plane service that utilizes a fleet of four aircraft for sightseeing tours.

A report from community economic development officer Lance Sherk said the town was first approached last fall about a possible float plane service operating from Muskoka Wharf. The original concept was coupled with an on-land artisans’ gallery, using the float plane as the initial attraction and the artists’ gallery as a supplemental attraction because one of the proponents is an artist and pilot.

Sherk told this newspaper the artisans’ gallery is expected to be located at one of the commercial footprints at the wharf.

After seeing a comprehensive business plan earlier this year, Sherk said the feasibility of locating the float plane on the north side of the dock closest to Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre, originally meant for the Wanda III, was discussed with town staff and Muskoka Wharf Association.

He said Seguin Aircraft Charters and Tours hopes to establish a lease before the Victoria Day long weekend, and is in the process of developing marketing and sales materials for the year.

Sherk proposed the lease value of the dock space for the first year would be $1,800, with an incremental increase that would see a $3,600 lease by year three.

“It enables us to put another attraction at the wharf that ties into the gallery,” he said.

Sherk said by endorsing the proposal there are many opportunities to extend greater control over float plane flights in and out of the bay. Currently, he said, there is very little the town can do to control flight activity in that area.

“They come and go as they like,” Sherk said. “They can arrange to pick people up and drop them off at the wharf without any approval. This is not Muskoka Golf Airways that used space at the wharf last year unbeknownst to us.”

If an application were made to Transport Canada for a registered seaplane base at the wharf, there would be an increased level of control over the activity and hours of operation for float planes using the bay, as well as taxiing speed limits, he explained.

“Additionally, current air control authority relative to Muskoka Airport only extends to approximately half of Gravenhurst Bay,” Sherk said. “In endorsing the establishment of a seaplane base at the wharf, an increased level of safety could also be offered to flights in and out of Muskoka Airport due to the increased control provided by an established service.”

Members of the committee were surprised to hear one of the wharf’s funding partners, Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program, was supportive of the venture and leasing public dock space to the seaplane company.

Sherk said an e-mail from a COIP representative said the town “should have a winner” because the venture is tied back to an artisans’ gallery with normal hours of operation.

“We lost the battle with them (COIP) to rent out 10 docks to the public,” said committee member Lou Guerriero. “I think the concept is good in that we can gain some control.”

Mayor John Klinck said he took exception to the concept that ratepayers can’t lease the docks there, yet a business can. He said the opportunity to generate revenue from the docks would contribute to the vitality of the community.

“(Transport Canada) has a whole different set of rules and I will need a whole lot of propping up and nurturing to convince me to allow planes in and out of the bay so we can control them, when anyone from anywhere can fly in at any time,” said Klinck.

Committee member Sandy Cairns was concerned that several contractors had approached her about leasing dock space at the wharf and were told they could not as private enterprise.

“It doesn’t seem like a lot of money to lease the dock,” Cairns said.

Committee member Paisley Donaldson worried about opposition to the proposal because of several letters the town has received about hours of operation, the number of flights per day and noise and traffic.

“Cottagers try to get away from that in the city,” she said.

“Lake residents are already concerned,” agreed committee member Mark Clairmont.

A motion to defer the item was lost in a 4-3 vote, and the committee subsequently agreed to proceed to the lease stage with Seguin Aircraft Charters and Tours. Clairmont was the only councillor to vote against the proposal. Bob Colhoun was absent from the meeting.