Northern Nova Scotia development thread

[David1gray]

Design tender called for West Highlands

AMHERST – A new elementary school proposed for Amherst has taken a step forward.
The province’s Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Department has issued a call for expressions of interest to pre-qualify design-build teams for the design and construction of three schools, including West Highlands Elementary.
That project as well as schools in New Glasgow and Liverpool are being implemented under separate contracts.
“Those schools were part of the capital plan that was recently announced and this is part of that process,” Education Department spokesperson Glenn Friel said on Wednesday.
The tender closes on Jan. 19.
The province has committed $6.6 million for 2012 to begin construction of the school that is expected to be completed for the opening of classes in September 2013. The remaining money for the school will be in the 2012-13 capital plan.
dcole@amherstdaily.com

http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/New...st-Highlands/1

[David1gray]

I figured I would post an update on what have been the main projects in the last year throughout Northern Nova Scotia. I'll do this by county.

Antigonish:

Proposed:
Seven story condo building - the proposed location of this project is at the corner of Main and Court Streets. Two levels retail, with the remaining floors being condos. Currently going through approval by the town.

Approved:
Melford International Terminal - Located on the Strait of Canso, this modern container facility when built will be a intermodal rail facility. Link

Under Construction:
Trans Canada Highway Bypass - construction of the Antigonish bypass will continue into the new year. Phase one of the project is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2012. Link

Complete:
Main Street bridge - The Main Street Bridge was complete in the late summer, early fall.

Pictou:

Proposed:
Town of Pictou entrance - A Recent study done to determine the best possible way to attract business in from TCH 106 suggested a few changes to the way the roads are laid out in the area, and would involve a few land deals being made. Link

Approved:
Four Story Seniors Complex - Location near East River Road, first floor retail, remaining floors seniors housing. Link

Albion Power Centre Strip Projects - The last update for this project was that they were still waiting for a few more tenants. Construction could begin any day. Link A Subway Restaurant is also approved in the park

Under Construction:
Exit 21 development (Westville exit) - Highland Truck Service is currently under construction along with a road to access the area. A restaurant is also approved for the area.

Pictou County Wellness Centre - Construction on the Wellness Centre began in the spring, and continues into the new year. Most of the building outer frame work has come into place. Link

Home Hardware - Construction began at the beginning of December. The new location will replace old stores on New Glasgow and Stellarton.

Complete:
Sobeys Head Offices Kings Street - In November, the new building opened and the form location was demolished. Link

DSME Trenton - Started producing wind turbine towers recently. Took around a year to convert the former railcar plant to the new tower making facility. The plant plans to expand to being capable of producing blades on the future. Link

Albion Place Stores - Over the last year Central Supplies, Access Nova Scotia, and a Sobeys Gas Bar/Needs Convenience store all opened in the park.


Colchester:

Proposed:
"Mini Dartmouth Crossings" - Not much information available on this project at the moment. Link

Approved:
Two five story residential buildings - The development will include the construction of two five-storey buildings situated on Marshland Drive. The first will be a 39-unit building with construction beginning in the spring of 2011, while the second would begin in the spring of 2014 and contain 63 units. This may have already begun construction, not sure Link

Under Construction:
Civic Centre - Work began on the centre in early 2011, and has progressed slowly throughout the year. Link

Truro Hospital - The new hospital is expected to be open within 2012, replacing the old hospital. Link

Complete:
----

Cumberland:

Under Construction:
Tantramar Marsh Wind Farm - Construction began on the wind farm in the summer, towers are now being put into place.

[David1gray]

Truro Civic Centre:








Truro Hospital:






all my own

[Antigonish]

Awesome job keeping this thread updated, much appreciated!

[David1gray]

Thanks, glad to know someone reads this stuff haha

[David1gray]

Power centre stays course

Albion Place is developing well and on schedule, Stellarton Mayor Joe Gennoe says.
The power centre added four tenants in 2011, with construction completed at one of the sites and in progress at another.
“It’s been a successful year,” he says.
Gennoe revealed that an agreement is about to be signed with a tenant on land bordering Highway 104. He would not name the tenant, but the power centre’s design calls for a food retailer to locate on the land between Central Home Improvement and a brook that runs through the park and under the highway.
The power centre started with the Holiday Inn Express.
The Town of Stellarton then hired consultant Paul Brown to fill the lots.
Since then, Central completed its move to the park and opened last spring. Access Nova Scotia built a new facility beside Holiday Inn and opened in November.
The design calls for a furniture outlet between Central and the Holiday Inn.
Construction at a new Home Hardware store has begun and the store’s frame has been put in place.
A Subway outlet will be built at the west end of Lawrence Boulevard.
The plan also included a strip mall across Lawrence Boulevard from the Holiday Inn that was to be built this year, but design changes have delayed the work.
While more tenants are being sought, road and infrastructure work has taken place throughout the year.
Street Two was partly paved, as was part of Street Three to allow construction to proceed at the Home Hardware site.
“The road work was important,” Gennoe said. “It will be finished in the spring.”
Ground was also levelled to create a 10-foot elevation for other lots along Street Three

http://www.pictouadvocate.com/2012/0...-stays-course/

There is a blank sign beside the fastfuel gas station that may be there for an annoucement of what is going on the food outlet land.

[David1gray]

Health authority says upgrades to Aberdeen on track

NEW GLASGOW – Renovations to the Aberdeen Hospital’s emergency room and pharmacy are on track, says the vice-president of corporate services for the Pictou County Health Authority.
Alan Mongraw said the authority is currently in the process of “revisiting its functional program” which will be looking at sizes and features within the plan and clarify the budget process for the project.
He added a project manager will also be hired in the near future.
The health authority received funding approval last spring from the provincial government to go ahead with plans to renovate its emergency room and its pharmacy.
Renovations to the emergency room department will bring it up to a state-of-the-art facility that will see it expanded out into the hospital's south parking lot.
A patient traffic flow would be improved because a holding area would be created where patients would wait to be admitted instead of being held on stretchers in hallways. Upgrades would also include an infectious control area and the new overall design would be based on a linear flow, the second of its kind in Nova Scotia.
Improvements to the pharmacy area will not be as noticeable to the public, but will improve patient care and help with the hospital's accreditation.
The Aberdeen Professional Centre will be demolished within the next few months so there is less traffic on-site. Once the professional centre is torn down, a temporary parking lot will be made on the grounds until work begins on an ambulatory care centre.
The authority had asked the province to approve $12.3 million while the municipalities are contributing $1.4 million or 25 per cent of the cost of the project.
So far, the provincial government has committed $2.6 million to the project which will cover phase-one costs such as putting together a project team and some design and preliminary work. The Aberdeen Hospital project was announced in the provincial government’s capital budget for 2012, but the exact funding amount wasn’t disclosed.
County councillors expressed concern recently that their contribution may increase beyond $4.1 million because the province’s deputy health minister said it was only an estimated cost.
Pictou County Warden Ron Baillie said everyone is expecting there will be an increase and it’s something that will be dealt with at that time.
He said the most important thing right now is to get the project done.
"It's a high priority for everybody in the county and we just have to lobby
the government to get their funding in there so we can start these
renovations to have a better ER and better pharmacy."
Mongraw said although costs can increase with any project, he expects that the estimated $4.1 million contribution from the municipalities will be close to the required amount.
“There is no reason to believe there will be any dramatic changes,” he said.

http://www.ngnews.ca/News/Local/2012...een-on-track/1

[Antigonish]

I noticed while driving home to Antigonish this weekend there is a 3-story apartment building under construction across the street from St. Andrews Jr. High School. Also the 3-story apartment building on main street finished a few months ago, it looks pretty good in my opinion.

Update on the over-passes on the highway bypass construction in Antigonish: The RR#7 overpass is getting close and one of the round-a-bouts is complete. The bridge over the West River near BeechHill is nearing completion.

[David1gray]

N.S. gives $3.3M to Cape Breton railway for repair work

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia is giving $3.3 million to the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway for repair work.

The provincial government says the money will go to bridge improvements and help prevent railway deterioration.

In a statement, Economic Development Minister Percy Paris said the rail line would be too expensive to operate and maintain without the funding.

The funding comes on top of an agreement announced last September that gives the railway up to $2 million in annual public funding for capital and maintenance costs for the next three years.

Premier Darrell Dexter has previously said he wants the railway, owned by Rail America Inc., to end its dependency on provincial subsidies.

http://atlantic.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...ce=twitterfeed

[David1gray]

Racino being considered for Truro Power Centre

BIBLE HILL - The harness racing industry in Colchester County could be in store for a big shot in the arm.
The Millbrook First Nation, along with Harness Racing Nova Scotia, is exploring the idea of building a racino - a harness racing track and casino - in the Truro Power Centre.
"We want to enhance our site," said Lloyd Johnson, Millbrook's economic development officer. "We want to make the Power Centre a destination. It's on the map and we want to build on that."
Although the project is simply an idea at this stage, Johnson said Millbrook would like to construct a five-eighths-mile oval, complete with casino and a parking lot to accommodate 1,300 vehicles. The project would accompany a new hotel development in the Power Centre.
The band is drawing inspiration from the racino built in Charlottetown in 2005, a project that came with a $25-million price tag.
Although no estimate is in place for the Power Centre project, Johnson said the development would be a big boost to the harness racing industry throughout the province and the rest of the Maritimes because a percentage of the profits would be injected back into racing. It's already proven itself successful in Charlottetown.
"And the drawing area here is much bigger than P.E.I.," Johnson said. "We're right in the middle of the Halifax to Moncton corridor, so it fits and I think it's a doable thing."
The plans do not include barns for resident horses, only paddocks to house animals during race days. In such a case, Truro Raceway could still house its horses and the half-mile oval could be used as a training track.
Johnson said Millbrook's plan has been met with optimism from the racing community and the band has spoken to the provincial government and a company called Great Canadian, which operates several successful facilities in Ontario.
"We've been getting a lot of feedback urging us to keep going," Johnson said.
But Johnson acknowledged the project is going to need the co-operation of all parties involved, including the province, the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association, the Nova Scotia Provincial Exhibition Commission, which currently operates Truro Raceway and Harness Racing Nova Scotia.
"There are so many players involved and we're going to need everybody behind us," Johnson said.
Truro Raceway general manager Andrew Kenny said he would be happy to get on board.
"Harness racing is in a difficult position so I think we need some innovative ideas and we want to be in the loop."
sports@trurodaily.com

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local...Power-Centre/1

[David1gray]

Construction of Millbrook water park could begin this summer, official says

TRURO - Construction of a new indoor water park and 100-room hotel in Millbrook could begin this summer, the head of Pacrim Hospitality Services says.
"That would be our aim," said company CEO Glen Squires. "We would do it by hopefully early to mid summer would be our target."
Plans for a 30,000 square-foot indoor water park and large hotel at the Truro Power Centre, which would be in partnership with the Millbrook First Nations Band, have been in the works for several years.
But the initiative, expected to run close to $30 million, has been delayed somewhat by the economic downtown throughout North America in recent years.
"We are still looking at development up there. As a matter of fact I expect to have a meeting with them shortly," Squires said of band officials.
"We are working actively to make something happen this year. And I have to say that I am much more confident in the ability to get things done, as far as hotels are concerned and related facilities, in 2012 then I have in 2010 and 2011. The borrowing and the equity environment has been very difficult. So we're beginning to see some resurgence and optimism in new development."
Pacrim currently operates the Super 8 Hotel at the power centre and also has a partnership in the Saltscapes restaurant there.
And while Squires believes another hotel could be a viable venture on its own, that is not the vision his company has for the site.
"Just building another hotel doesn't really accomplish what we want to do. I mean what we want to do is begin to make the power centre more and more of a destination," he said.
Past experience has shown, Squires said, that when hotels and water parks are built in proximity to other retail outlets, it creates more of a destination setting for people from both near and far.
"So, the hotel and water park, which have worked well in the past when they are built in proximity to other retail and stuff makes a destination where people want to come.
"What we found is when you create the retail with an entertainment environment, that people will come and stay for a day or two. And, really, what we want to do is, either have people from the Maritimes come as a destination or have people who are visiting from outside, when they're passing through, like maybe spend one less night in Halifax and spend it up there."
And given the development of a new regional hospital and civic centre in the near vicinity makes the project even more viable than before.
"Obviously with the hospital and the civic centre, there are some good things happening in the Truro area that are going to create some additional demand that hadn't been there in the past," Squires said.

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local...fficial-says/1

[-Harlington-]

Well it seems Truro is starting to think bigger

[David1gray]

New business opening

Make way for a new gas station coming to town.
Westville Road is the soon-to-be home of the very first Fas Gas Plus in Nova Scotia.
Fas Gas Plus, owned by Parkland Fuels Corporation, began in Red Deer, Alta., 25 years ago and has gradually stretched its way across the country as the largest independent fuel distributor in Canada.
Parkland Fuels Corp. bought Blue Wave Energy in December 2010 and has been quickly moving across the country to 14 sites in Atlantic Canada.
“It will be a dealer owned site (not company owned),” explains Bill McMackin, Parkland Fuels Corp. territory manager for Atlantic Canada . “This was our first opportunity that matured in Nova Scotia and our goal is to be a major player in wholesale dealer business for Atlantic Canada.”
Currently Parkland Fuels Corp. is the largest Esso distributor in Canada, not including Atlantic Canada.
“Our focus is really on the dealers,” explains McMackin. “We started with the farmlands in Alberta and we pride ourselves on being fair and generous.”
By bringing Fas Gas Plus to Nova Scotia, Parkland Fuels is helping get its brand out there and grow its volume as a publicly traded company.
McMackin expects the new station to be up and running within the next couple of weeks as the pumps are already in the ground. There will also be a convenience store as part of the gas station.
“This site, like our others, will have ongoing offers in terms of promotions. For example right now, we are giving away two free flights with West Jet, 12 across the country. We are community oriented and want to help the dealer while also giving back to the clientele.”

http://www.pictouadvocate.com/2012/0...iness-opening/

[David1gray]

Been awhile since my last post but this one is worth it!

Ten-storey condos in works for former junior high school site

TRURO - It may not equal skyscraper status, perhaps, but a proposed 10-storey condominium project would certainly give Truro its highest buildings to date.
Halifax developer John Hampson told the Truro Daily News he is in the process of purchasing the former Truro Junior High School property upon which to situate a condominium building that would include two, 10-storey wings with a total of about 60 separate condos or apartment units.
"It's where the old school site was right in downtown Truro," he said of the property.
Hampson said while the land-purchase deal is not quite complete he is getting "good support" from the town in his efforts and does not foresee any issues.
If all goes according to plan, Hampson will construct a masonry-type building that "will probably be pre-cast."
The exterior of the first five storeys are to be clad in brick while the upper portions would be concrete.
And whether the units are sold as condos or leased as apartments, will depend on market demand, he said.
"I would like to do it as a condo but I don't know if I can sell that many condos in Truro."
Hampson is the same developer who is planning to construct a strip mall across from Kent Building Supplies on Wade Road. That project involves units for 20 stores and a three-storey office development and is expected to generate about 125 permanent jobs when completed.
Hampson is also hopeful that both projects will get underway during this year's construction season, although there is no question over which development would proceed first.
"That will come out of the ground before the apartments will," he said of the Wade Road proposal. "I would hope as soon as the weather breaks ... we're just about ready to go."

http://www.trurodaily.com/News/Local...-school-site/1

[David1gray]

Development in the air

Great to see the lights back on at the former Cavanagh's Food Market in Bible Hill this week.
Of course, popping in and picking up bread and milk isn't an option any more.
But the Co-Op Country Garden Store, re-located after nearly 60 years on Willow Street, does offer pet food supplies, livestock feed, garden supplies, automotive needs and a whole lot more.
It seems a natural fit, what with the Nova Scotia Exhibition Grounds and the Nova Scotia Agricultural Grounds a stone's throw away.
Also of interest are plans by property owner Shawn Cavanagh to develop "the whole block" where the Cavanagh's building stands and when it's done there could be four to six tenants on site within the next year or two.
And why not? The location is excellent and, as Bible Hill and Valley continue to grow by leaps and bounds, it becomes even more appealing with each passing year.
Still with a development theme, we note that a 20-store strip mall, three-storey office tower on Wade Road in Truro could get underway this spring.
The project, which was first announced less than a year ago, is expected to generate about 125 permanent jobs when completed and that's great news, assuming it doesn't come at the expense of existing businesses.
And, if it does, well, consumers speak with their wallets don't they?
Halifax developer John Hampson, who is behind the Wade Road project, also hopes to purchase the former Truro Junior High School property in order to build two, 10-storey wings with about 60 separate condos or apartment units.
Should we assume the units facing away from the scrap metal yard will be priced higher?
If this project goes ahead it would be the tallest building in the area by a wide margin (we'd love to get a view of the town from the roof) and, although, we're unsure of the condo demand we applaud Hampson's desire to invest in the Truro area.
Not sure how nearby homeowners will feel about having a 10-story neighbour, however.

http://www.trurodaily.com/Opinion/Ed...t-in-the-air/1

[David1gray]

Maher Melford director addresses Antigonish Chamber

...

Following the meeting members and guests gathered for the President’s Dinner. Brad Gordon, a member of the board of directors for Maher Terminals, was the keynote speaker. He spoke about Maher Terminals and Deutsche Bank’s role in building a $350 million container terminal at Melford along the Strait of Canso.
Gordon, who has focused on maritime transportation for the past six years, said the bank invests in infrastructure projects such as those built by Maher Terminals in the Port of New York/New Jersey and Prince Rupert, British Columbia on behalf of pension fund beneficiaries and other institutional investors.
He described container shipping as cyclical in nature controlled by big shippers such as Walmart, Home Depot and Canadian Tire who have incredible amount leverage since there are so many shipping lines.
“There are price wars on the sea between the container ship lines and there is also the cost of fuel,” Gordon said. “This results in a volatile market where it is hard to make money in the best of times. In the worst of times, which we have gone through in this business in the last four to five years, basically it is impossible to make money.”
This has affected the Maher Melford project.
“The project is not in a vacuum in Guysborough County. It relies on global trade.”
Gordon said a container terminal is a physical connection to the regions of the world.
“For Maher Melford Terminal the strength of the global economy and the level of consumer confidence in North America, largely in the U.S., drives consumer spending. Consumer spending drives global commerce,” he said, noting the economic downturn can be traced back to the burst of the housing bubble in 2007.
“Consumer confidence and real estate are key drivers in my business having a full recovery.”
Gordon said that despite this environment the Maher Melford team continues to push ahead with the company focusing on getting the project off the ground. The company continues to facilitate the discussions between RailAmerica and Canadian National railroads, acquire real estate and meet permit requirements.
“The key piece is for someone in the container shipping world to catch the vision of what this container terminal in Guysborough County can really do for their network. We are talking at the very highest levels to many of the key steamship lines that we believe have the right trade routes that would benefit from having a place to dock in Nova Scotia.”
Gordon is confident that once this major step is accomplished investors will be willing to spend the money necessary for the project. Once that happens he said Nova Scotians will have to pull together to capitalize on the local opportunities Maher Melford will provide.
“You can change the dynamics of the local economy. It is an absolute positive for this region,” he said, noting the benefits that Prince Rupert has realized from building a container terminal that has grown the last four years.
“It has created economic opportunity for people who have goods to get off land and into the global markets.”
Gordon said the company is moving forward and knows it can create jobs.
“We are making progress because it makes sense. Keep on investing money. Keep on investing time because we think the end result will be very worthwhile for Nova Scotia.”
Gordon concluded the evening with a personal reflection on American politics and taking questions from those gathered.

http://www.thecasket.ca/top-news/mah...r-of-commerce/

The $350m elephant in the room
With the Port of Halifax operating under capacity, some question the business case for Melford ‘superport’

While debate rages about the future of the Port of Halifax, analysts are also eyeing the elephant in the room — the $350-million container terminal that hasn’t even been built yet.

Nova Scotia’s viability as a port destination is under question, with some saying the dreams of an Atlantic Gateway should be abandoned so port lands can be put to better use.

Former Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Bill Black publicly pointed out the Port of Halifax remains under one-third capacity.

Mayor Peter Kelly responded in a posting on Halifax’s website that port critics were making "deliberate attempts to undermine or outright destroy this vital resource."

But it’s not the Port of Halifax that is under threat, at least in the short term.

The federal government controls the land, there are long-term contracts with private operators who are still bringing in new equipment, and millions of dollars continue to be spent on expansion projects.

It’s once you look northeast of Halifax that the question marks truly surface.

In Cape Breton, the federal and provincial governments split the tab on a $38-million project to dredge Sydney Harbour in the hopes of bringing in bigger ships and boosting the local economy.

In Guysborough County, residents are hoping the Melford "superport" will be built in the Strait of Canso.

But some question whether the business case for these ports exists while an established port like Halifax remains so far under capacity.

After 18 months of growth, container traffic in Halifax has dropped since last June. On a wider scale, Halifax’s North American market share fell in half over the last decade to 0.8 per cent in 2009 from 1.6 per cent in 2001, according to a California study by Cambridge Systematics Inc.

"I think if the Melford guys were going to do it, they would have probably pulled the trigger by now," said Black.

"They know way more about this than either you or I do, and if they pull the trigger on spending over $300 million, they must have some insight that I’m lacking. But I’m a little pessimistic that it’s going to happen."

Black said he’d love to see the project come to life. He said Melford could be more efficient than Halifax because of the wide space available, and the company behind the project, Maher Terminals LLC, has been so successful with its port in Prince Rupert, B.C.

But sending shipments by land is more expensive than by sea, so being closer to Europe — the selling point of Melford, Sydney and Nova Scotia in general — is also a major disadvantage.

The world is moving toward larger ships, which is good for places like Nova Scotia that are rich with deep harbours. But the overhaul of the Panama Canal will also mean more large ships will come from the Pacific and stop in ports like Norfolk, Va.

Both the province and the federal government have been highly supportive of Melford. Maher Terminals has not asked for any taxpayer support.

"(Defence Minister Peter) MacKay has been following this possibility and understands that Melford executives are looking into a corporate viability of this proposal," a spokeswoman for MacKay said Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for Premier Darrell Dexter said the province would support Melford in any way possible. But analysts remain skeptical.

Dalhousie commerce professor Mary Brooks is bullish on the Halifax port and thinks the move to larger ships will lead to its resurgence. But that won’t necessarily help Melford’s chances.

"The question you have to ask yourself is, when the turnaround comes for deep ports, if you were an investor, would you put your money into a second terminal in the same rough vicinity when a first port hasn’t yet attracted the business?" she said.

Ultimately, Brooks said, the public will have to keep its eye on how the private sector spends its money. She noted that money is being spent at Halterm in south-end Halifax, which bodes well for that facility. Melford, for now, remains in limbo.

"Until someone actually makes an investment, we’re talking dreams as opposed to real facilities," said Brooks

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novasco...-elephant-room

[-Harlington-]

Good for Truro, Im glad other areas in Nova Scotia are developing as well as Halifax
hopefully they get their ''skyscrapers''

[David1gray]

Terminal project on target

ANTIGONISH- A representative involved with a proposed terminal project was the guest speaker at a chamber of commerce general meeting last week.
Bradley Gordon, member of the board of directors for Maher Terminals, spoke at the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce AGM and President’s Dinner last Thursday. Among the topics of Gordon’s discussion was the proposed terminal project in Melford.
“We’re going to be giving a general status update, talking a little bit about the industry and where we find ourselves at the project level, vis-à-vis the industry as a whole,” said Gordon.
Mike Uberoi, chief operating and financial officer for the Melford International Terminal Project, said the company is comfortable with its position on all of the aspects of the development. Uberoi said the company is happy with the equity partners making “significant” commitments.
“We’re happy where we are on the rail front,” said Uberoi. “To be honest with you, we are focusing most of our time today on relationships with the ocean carriers to seek our cargo for the facility which will allow us to get in the ground and start construction.”
When asked what sort of news or updates he can share with the public, Uberoi said Maher Melford is dealing with the highest levels of some of the largest ocean carrier companies in the world, noting they are optimistic they will “secure some cargo that will allow us to move ahead with construction.”
As for a timeline, Gordon said the Maher terminal project in British Columbia had a 10 year timetable from inception to completion.
“We certainly don’t expect this project to go on that long but these are major capital expenditures and there is a lot of leg work that gets done before anyone even knows that anything is going on,” Gordon said.
Gordon said the project is a part of a global trade initiative, adding trade into North America is stagnant and has remained so for about four years.
“We think we’re knocking on a couple of really receptive doors right now,” said Gordon. “I can’t tell you a time line and that’s the same message we gave last summer. It’s a process and nobody’s giving up and we’re still committed to bringing this sort of economic engine to the Strait area because we think it makes sense. A lot of steam ship lines think it makes sense. We just need one of them to step across the line with a cheque book as well.”

http://www.porthawkesburyreporter.co...ect-on-target/

[David1gray]

I've been a little busy lately, and unable to keep the thread up to date but here are a few updates:

New provincial jail in Priestville went to tenders this week

The town of Pictou and County of Pictou have agree to do there own governance study for shared services.

Work on both the Truro Civic Centre and the Pictou County Wellness Centre is still on going.

The old Nurses Residence at Aberdeen Hospital were recently torn down.

Drove through Amherst 2 weeks ago, grabbed a few pictures of the Marsh Windfarm:

[Smevo]

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/L...in-this-year/1

The Melford International Terminal is seen in this illustration.

Construction of Melford terminal to begin this year


Published on April 8, 2012
Erin Pottie RSS Feed

PORT HAWKESBURY — The developers of a $350-million deepwater container terminal in the Strait of Canso say the project will begin this year.

Richie Mann, vice-president of marketing for Melford International Terminal, said funding for the project has already been secured.

“It’s fair to say that there’s significant interest in the project. The value proposition is certainly getting the attention of the major carriers and, as I said, we remain optimistic,” said Mann.

Mann said a freight customer base must be developed prior to terminal construction.

...