Petty Harbour Maddox Cove begins work on phase one of strategic master plan (Petty Harbour, Newfoundland and Labrador)

April 30, 2003

Petty Harbour Maddox Cove, NF - The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), and the Honourable Anna Thistle, Minister of the Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education for Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced funding of over $650,000 for implementation of Phase I of the Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove Strategic Tourism Master Plan.

The funds will be made available through the Strategic Community Investment Fund, administered by ACOA, and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement, through funding provided by Job Creation Partnerships (JCPs). The Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove Development Corporation will use the funds to begin development of the waterfront facility on the North side of the harbour. The work will create 17 jobs in the construction phase and provide employment opportunities through increased tourism activity in the future.

“Petty Harbour has significant potential that needs to be more fully realized. The Strategic Master Plan has identified some key areas for development that will provide this community with some of the basic facilities it needs to attract greater numbers of visitors,” said ACOA Minister Gerry Byrne. “Every year we are seeing an increase in the numbers of tourists, and all of them are seeking those unique experiences and special places they have come to associate with the province. The Development Corporation in Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove is on the right track with this project, and I’m sure the town will see considerable benefits in the years ahead.”

This first phase of the master plan will involve the removal of existing, deteriorated structures and replacing them with a marginal crib wharf. The new wharf will be constructed from pressure treated materials and will have a reinforced concrete deck, new fenders, chocks, ladders, coping, mooring cleats and rings. This upgraded docking capacity will make the Harbour more attractive to recreational boaters who wish to spend extended periods in the area. The space behind the wharf will be filled and graded for use as a parking area.

“The people of Petty Harbour Maddox Cove have made some carefully-considered decisions about the future of their community,” said Minister Thistle. “They have a history of resourcefulness which has certainly informed that process. Building on the strengths that exist here will allow this community to expand its economic prospects and add provide new employment options into the future.”

The long-term Strategic Tourism Master Plan describes the development of numerous interpretive and service-oriented facilities in the town. Each phase of the plan respects the town’s existing architecture and lifestyle. Petty Harbour Maddox Cove has been used as a set for numerous feature films, including John and the Missus, and was the first fishing community in Newfoundland and Labrador to declare a “Protected Fishing Area” encompassing the community fishers’ grounds.

“We’re excited - the whole town is excited,” said Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove Development Corporation chair, Ron Doyle. “We’ve been working on this for a few years and we are anxious to get started. Our long-term goal is to incorporate the town within the tourism product that is evolving along this coast. The East Coast trail goes through the community already, and we believe motor coach tour operators will want to bring tours here once we have the planned infrastructure in place. We have a big market at our doorstep – its time to develop that.”

The Petty Harbour Maddox Cove Development Corporation is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to provide economic development and diversification through the enhancement of infrastructure and the refinement of employment skills. The Corporation is governed by a board of directors.

ACOA funding for this initiative is being provided through the Strategic Community Investment Fund; the fund provides $135 million over five years to help communities in Atlantic Canada create an environment that encourages the development of strategic sectors. The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a component of the $700 million Atlantic Investment Partnership, a five-year Government of Canada initiative designed to help Atlantic Canadians compete in the global economy. ACOA administers the Fund.

The project is also supported under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement, through funding provided by Job Creation Partnerships (JCPs). JCPs bring together local partners to create employment opportunities by linking the needs of unemployed individuals with local business initiatives and economic development. To be eligible, companies must demonstrate that the work experience provided to unemployed individuals is incremental to their normal operations and can lead to long-term employment as well as help communities build their economies.

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For information:

Olivia Letemplier
Office of the Hon. Gerry Byrne
Minister of State for ACOA
(613) 954-2487

Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(709) 772-2935

Bob Picco
Regional Communications Manager
Human Resources Development Canada
(709) 772-5346

Jim Hamlyn
Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove Development Corporation
(709) 368-0438