Water levels raising costs of marina construction project

Windsor City Council met Monday night to discuss the proposed $2 million of additional funding for the reconstruction of a marina in the east end of town.

Lakeview Park Marina, located on the shoreline of Lake St. Clair in Windsor, is due for reconstruction after rising water levels caused damage and shut down the marina last season.

Administration intends to follow through on plans that have already been drafted and to have the marina completed for the 2020 boating season, voting to approve a total cost of about $5 million.

In June, council approved the $3 million cost of the project.

“A variety of factors contributed to the tenders coming in over budget, including the current market for marine construction across Ontario – record high water levels across the province has left many marina operators with the need to replace docks in order to continue providing services,” said the report to council.

According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the 2018 average water level in Lake St. Clair shows an increase of 58 centimetres from average levels measured 100 years ago.

A portion of the requested $2M would come from a Federal Gas Tax (FGT) surplus of $418 000.

“There is significant risk to not completing the full project; maintaining the existing budget would result in a significant loss of boat slips and ultimately revenues, [as well as] an inconvenience to our seasonal boaters [if the recommendation is declined] and operation of the docks are [sic] not fully restored,” said the report.