A group in Eastern Newfoundland is lobbying the federal government to bend its rules and allow snowmobiling in a national park.
The Terra Nova Trail Riders want Ottawa to permit a corridor through Terra Nova National Park that would allow snowmobilers to access nearby trails.
It’s illegal to operate a snowmobile inside the boundaries of Terra Nova, one of two national parks in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Robyn Spracklin, who lives in Charlottetown - a community inside the park boundaries - said it’s unfair that she and others must drive for nearly 90 minutes to reach a trail.
“Everyone has to have a trailer, or a big truck or some way to tow their machine outside of the Terra Nova National Park boundaries, and to get to a location where they can go,” she said.
“It is quite costly and time consuming.”
The Trail Riders are appealing for federal permission to cut a 15-kilometre path from Charlottetown to another trail outside the park.
Park Supt. Jewel Cunningham said the park opposes such a plan, citing potential environmental impacts and concerns about disturbances to wildlife and habitat.
Source: CBC News
Terra Nova Trailriders 2005 Inc.
This Club is the newest member club of the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation. The Club was formed in May of 2005 to promote and develop Safe Snowmobiling in the area surrounding the Terra Nova River Valley. Over the past years, they have undertaken and will continue Trail Construction and Upgrading in addition to Grooming. Their mandate is to Groom and Maintain the Trailway from Terra Nova Trestle to Grants Pit as well as secondary trails leading into Glovertown and surrounding area. They are working with their associate club The Peninsula Trail Riders of Eastport to develop a network in that area.
Address: P.O. Box 146 Glovertown, NL , NL Canada A0G2L0
Source: A WorldWeb.com travel guide to Snowmobile Tours in Atlantic Canada Press Release January 4, 2007 -- The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will conduct a screening commencing on January 4, 2007 of the project: Infrastructure Development. The proponent wishes to supply infrastructure development to four new snowmobile clubs that have joined the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation. The new members are the Eastern Trail Riders, the Tablelands Snow Riders, The Rivers, and the Terra Nova Trail Riders. The infrastructure development involves trail construction, including bridges and brush cutting; construction of signage, sheds, warm-up shelters and an office/storage area; as well as the purchase of equipment. Under section 5 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, an EA is required for this project because the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency may provide financial assistance to the proponent for the purpose of enabling the project. For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact: Study indicates snowmobile industry contributes $192 million to island economy
Atlantic Canada Snowmobile Tours
NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT
of an environmental assessment
Infrastructure Development
Deer Lake (NL)
Cathy Martin
Environmental Assessment Officer
Public Works and Government Services Canada
P.O. Box P.O. Box 4600
John Cabot Building
10 Barter's Hill
St. John's NL A1c 5T2
Telephone: (709) 772-5852
Fax: (709) 772-0916
Email: cathy.martin@pwgsc.gc.ca
and refer to CEAR reference number 07-01-24574
The Packet
Figures tabled at the recent annual general meeting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation in St. John’s indicate the snowmobile industry contributes $192 million to the economy on the island.
The study, titled, "The Economic Impact of Snowmobiling in Newfoundland" was completed by the Applied Research Unit of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.
"We always knew the industry was very lucrative to the island economy, but we did not know how lucrative. With this document we can substantiate it," says Penny Brake, executive director with the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation. "This number represents the direct impact of snowmobiling to the economy with the report further outlining the indirect and induced impact of the industry on the economy which increases this number, yet again, significantly.
"This is actually a very conservative figure," she says. "Of the 77,545 that were registered in 2005, it is very difficult to determine the actual number of sleds that are still being used on the island. Snowmobile registration in the province is a one-time registration and the records are not purged, so it is difficult to get an accurate number of the sleds that are still being used," says Brake.
"The $192 million is the result of a conservative speculation of 28,925 sleds on the island, derived from estimates on industry useful life of sleds. If we had the true number of sleds actually being used, the direct impact would be even more."
Because there was no data available to use, the study didn’t consider the economic impact of the out-of-province tourist to the island.
"As the industry grows in popularity and the message of snowmobiling on the island is getting out this will mean even higher returns on investment to government," says Brake. "Currently snowmobilers and the snowmobile industry contribute $7.3 million to the provincial treasury annually.
"This industry can prove to be the next biggest growth industry on the island in rural areas. The snowmobile industry creates direct, indirect, and induced employment for 1300 people on the island at a total of $32.8 million annually. According to the study much of this impact occurs in rural areas of the province during the winter season when economic activity and employment is much needed."
Government has access to an industry that can create employment for rural communities and help contribute millions in its coffers; an industry that has a large volunteer base as its backbone says Brake.
"We are very proud of the volunteers that have dedicated thousands of hours over the years, across the island, to make this the multi-million dollar industry it has become. There is only room for growth as we begin to market to our neighbours on the mainland portion of the country."
Meanwhile, Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, presented a petition in the House of Commons calling on the minister responsible for Parks Canada Agency, Rona Ambrose, to permit a corridor through Terra Nova National Park for snowmobile users.
Residents of the East Port Peninsula and surrounding communities are encumbered by the Terra Nova National Park boundaries. Currently, national park rules state that snowmobiles and other all terrain vehicles are not permitted within park boundaries.
"I am calling on the minister to relax this rule so the residents of the affected communities will have the same opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors as other Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," says Simms. "Other residents of the province have access to provincial trailways for recreational use. However, snowmobilers in the communities around Terra Nova National Park such as Charlottetown, and communities on the Eastport Peninsula, are denied access."
Limited use snowmobiling is permitted in other national parks. A 1973 federal/provincial agreement established Gros Morne National Park and ministerial letter permits snowmobiles where the use will not affect wildlife, vegetation or terrain.
The Terra Nova Trail Riders Association on behalf of the residents of the Eastport Peninsula, Glovertown and Charlottetown are requesting equal, fair treatment, and a corridor through Terra Nova National Park for their snowmobiling enjoyment.
bravenet.com