Some long-awaited and much-anticipated funding for proposed improvements to the Sechelt airport has finally arrived, thanks to the Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET).
Gibsons Mayor and ICET chair Barry Janyk made the funding announcement of $1,002,839 on Friday (Sept. 10). The funds will be provided to the District of Sechelt for the rehabilitation of the airport. The total cost of the project is estimated at $4,011,358.
Janyk said the proposed airport rehabilitation would result in all-weather air service connectivity to Vancouver. The work will include the lengthening of the existing runway to 1,200 metres, the installation of additional lighting for night operations and a global positioning system approach to encourage regularly-scheduled, fixed-wing air service to the Sunshine Coast.
"This project is just another example of the strategic 'economic infrastructure' that the Island Coastal Economic Trust uses as its basis for investment in community projects on the North Island and the Sunshine Coast," Janyk said.
Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster outlined the vision of an airport that is capable of supporting scheduled air carrier services as well as a wider variety of charter, corporate and other general aviation aircraft.
"The mission of the Sechelt airport is to act as a catalyst for economic development, to help develop the adjoining industrially-zoned lands and to serve as a transportation resource for residents and visitors to the Sunshine Coast," said Inkster. "This is fantastic news and is certainly an important part of our economic portfolio."The District has been working on airport expansion for many years - so many years in fact, that Coun. Ann Kershaw recalled the airport expansion was listed as one of her top priorities when she first ran for council in 1997.
"I chair the airport committee, and every time we have a council meeting, I say there is nothing new to report, but that the funding is coming," Kershaw said with a chuckle. "This is great news, and I'm very happy to learn that we have some of this funding in place."
Inkster said the District is continuing to apply for other grants and funding opportunities from both the provincial and federal governments for the remainder of the money required.
"Council as a whole has not met as a group to talk about this funding, so to start talking about the project at this point would be a bit premature," Inkster added. "I will say the key part of this award from ICET is that it creates some momentum."
ICET was established on Feb. 27, 2006 under an act of the provincial government. It provided a $50-million endowment that is managed by an independent board of directors comprised of 13 members - eight mayors and five provincial appointees from the ICET area.
The board's mandate is to make strategic investments in economic development priorities including forestry, transportation, tourism, mining, energy, Olympic opportunities, economic development, agriculture and aquaculture, and small business.
