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NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release
December 17, 2009
“With the exception of the Bellisle Heights multi-use trail, all municipal trails are marked and open to the public. They just won’t be groomed,” said Mayor Anita Dubeau.
The Town of Penetanguishene and the Georgian Bay Snowrider’s Club have been in negotiations to finalize a Use Agreement since April 2009. Both parties have made concessions and it was felt that an agreement would be in place for the 2009/10 season. A verbal agreement was approved by both parties, however on December 14th the Georgian Bay Snowriders advised the Town of Penetanguishene that they would be unable to sign this year’s agreement due to the inclusion of an existing clause to provide compensation for damage to Town roads by snowmobiling.
Each year thousands of tax dollars are used to re-surface and upgrade roadways for the safety of the primary road uses. The road crossing areas accessed by snowmobiles will require re-surfacing in approximately seven years time at the cost of tax payers of our community. These maintenance costs have to be addressed both on a municipal and provincial (Ontario Federation of Snowmobiling Clubs and the Ministry of Transportation) level.
A suggestion by the Town during the process was to host a future meeting with all the North Simcoe municipalities, Georgian Bay Snowriders, Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and the Ministry of Transportation to discuss this issue and others pertaining to this snowmobile issue. This meeting will move forward in the early spring.
“It is not easy to come up with a route that takes the snowmobilers off the roads and through the community,” said Mayor Dubeau. “We are continuing to work towards that end. In the meantime, we ask that snowmobilers use extra caution and recognize the rules for snowmobile use in the Town of Penetanguishene.”
Make it a safe ride. The legal limit on OFSC trails is 50 kilometers an hour, whether posted or not. When on roadways and trails within the Town of Penetanguishene (a 50 kilometre per hour or less speed limit for cars), the speed limit for snowmobiles is 20 km. If the speed limit is more than 50 kilometers per hour for cars, the maximum speed for a snowmobile is 50 kilometers per hour, regardless of what's posted for cars.
The Town recognizes snowmobiling is a very well-organized sport benefiting both the riders and the local community as well as the significant contribution of Georgian Bay Snowriders volunteers to ensure the trails are maintained providing a safe and enjoyable experience. The Town hopes to begin agreement discussion in early 2010 for the next snowmobile season.
For media requiring additional information, please contact:
Mayor Anita Dubeau
Town of Penetanguishene
Tel: (705) 549-7453 Fax: (705) 549-3743
Email: adubeau@penetanguishene.ca
www.penetanguishene.ca
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