By Cecilia Nasmith
During the coordinator reports at Cobourg council meetings, Councillor Emily Chorley continues to share news of the town's waterfront, which has suffered multiple challenges that include the COVID-19 pandemic – among other things.
The marina, for example.
“The first phase of the marina's electrical upgrade is completed, and a great job was done,” Chorley said at Monday's meeting.
“This represents a really important upgrade to help enhance our resilience to high Lake Ontario water levels.”
The campgrounds are busy again, following their late-season start when that property was turned over to the town's emergency services as a relief base early in the course of the pandemic.
Earlier in the meeting, Chorley had put motions on the floor that grew out of the Aquatic Safety Audit recently presented at council.
One of the motions singled out five recommendations that staff would be instructed to implement: install an Automatic External Defibrillator unit next to the marina office, ensure all marina staff are standard first aid-certified and trained in the use of rescue equipment and extraction techniques, complete a safety-equipment audit and establish life-saving stations on each marina dock and around the harbour, clearly identify egress ladders in the harbour, and conduct stray electrical current testing and document the results.
The second called for a joint working group to be tasked with drafting a safety procedure and emergency manual for submission to council and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee prior to next year's boating season. Membership would consist of two town staffers and one representative from a wide variety of user groups – the list includes the Survivor Thrivers, the Cobourg Yacht Club/Learn To Sail, Coast Guard, Green Canoe, YMCA Northumberland, the seasonal marina boaters' council, anglers/commercial charters, and the Cobourg Surf and Paddleboard Club.
Following the passage of both motions, Chorley also had more general recreational information to share, such as the news that Cobourg's 17 municipal playgrounds have just reopened.
“There are no limits other than the usual physical distancing rules,” she said.
“But these facilities will not be sanitized so, parents, please remember to use appropriate caution and bring along hand sanitizer.”
The splash pad is open for 10 kids at a time between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily, and the Centennial Pool opened July 6.
“The Y is helping provide programming that facilitates social distancing,” she said.
The Coverdale courts in Peter Delanty park are being resurfaced, and will be repainted to accommodate both tennis and pickleball.
And at the Cobourg Community Centre, staff are working on new operating procedures that will keep users safe when the facility reopens.
