As construction has begun for the town's expanded water treatment plant, a large chunk of Sunset Point's greenspace and trail has been fenced off to prevent public access for the next five or more years.
Some residents have expressed shock at just how much of the east end of Sunset Park is now cut off. The fencing goes from the existing water plant to the bay along Raglan Street.
The $260 million project will result in an increased water treatment capacity from 31,140 cubic metres per day to 59,000 cubic metres per day.
There will be a new building constructed between Georgian Bay and the existing building, which will remain and be used for additional chlorination, administration and storage. The new building will house the UV disinfection and membrane infrastructure.
Also on the site at the end of construction (which is expected to last through to 2031), will be a public trail, washrooms, an outdoor plaza, and public art.
The parking lot at the park's east end will be closed for the duration of the project. Some of it will be used for the new building and some of the space will be used as a staging area for the equipment being used for construction.
During construction, the water plant needs to keep running, which requires a larger construction zone, according to the town.
Work hours for the site will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The roads are open, but temporary closures will occur. The town has also forewarned residents, via a construction notice on the town website, that there could be construction overnights, on weekends, or on some holidays occasionally throughout the construction period.
"Safe drinking water and public safety are a top priority of the water treatment plant expansion project," states a notice on the town's website.
According to the same notice, town staff worked with the project contractor to "minimize" the area being used by construction crews in order to keep as much public space open as possible.
"With all the workers necessary on-site, the contractor is working to secure additional off-site parking and staging areas for large equipment deliveries and storage to further reduce the space impacted next to the plant," reads the statement from the town."
Because most of the east end of the park was designated as the barbecuing area, all but two of the public barbecues are now behind a fence, and there are no charcoal dumping stations accessible.
Karen Cubitt, the town's director of parks, recreation and culture, confirmed the town does have money in the 2024 parks budget to put in some more barbecue stations in the accessible areas of Sunset Point this summer to replace the ones that are now behind the construction fence.
For a list of statements and announcements made by the town regarding the water treatment plant, visit engage.collingwood.ca/wtp.
