Consultants are looking for the best site or combination of sites for a tidal industry service centre in the Annapolis Basin.
exp Services of Dartmouth won the $93,000 contract and has begun contacting local stakeholders.
The study is funded one-third, one-third, one-third by the Digby Area Industrial Commission, the Nova Scotia Department of Rural Economic Development and Tourism and the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency.
West Nova MP Greg Kerr was in Digby on Friday, Sept. 27 to announce the project.
“We have the deep water harbour, we have the great location right here on the Bay of Fundy and everyone here is working together on this,” said Kerr. “The important thing now to be ready for the opportunity and I think this study is one great step in the direction of making Digby the site for servicing the tidal industry.”
Digby mayor Ben Cleveland says the consultants will be looking at three potential sites for the service centre: adjacent the existing port, in the Digby Gut area adjacent the ferry terminal and somewhere along the Shore Road.
The consultants are currently talking to turbine developers with an interest in the Bay of Fundy about what sort of activities might go on in such a facility and what kind of infrastructure it would require including what sort of cranes, what sort of access to how much water.
The second phase of the study will focus on a development plan and look at the economic impact of building a site in Digby.
The consultants will identify potential funding sources and will give some guidance on eventual environmental management and approvals.
The final report is expected by January 2013.
jriley@digbycourier.ca
