Grey County is supporting MP Larry Miller’s initiative to get the Owen Sound Harbour dredged by the federal government.
The Bruce Grey Owen Sound MP is trying to arrange a meeting with federal Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Denis Lebel.
Shipping activities in the federally owned port are being restricted by low water levels, not to mention the build-up of silt.
Miller wants the federal government to at least pay for a basic maintenance dredge.
It’s believed that would cost at least two million dollars.
But Miller says it’s badly needed because the harbour hasn’t been dredged in about 25 years and now lake freighters coming into and leaving the harbour cannot do so with full loads.
Soon, big ships will not be able to enter or leave the port at all, at which point it will be useless as a commercial harbour.
Farmers use the elevator at the harbour to transport grain along the Great Lakes, and shipments of rock, cement and road salt are delivered to the area via the harbour.
Blue Mountains Deputy Mayor Duncan McKinlay says that’s why this is an important matter for Grey County and the entire region, as well as for the city.
McKinlay — who is the chair of the county’s planning and community development committee — says the project should have been done long ago.
But he notes the focus now should be on getting the feds to do the job as soon as possible.
The planning committee voted last week to write a letter of support for Miller’s effort and County council endorsed that motion on Tuesday.
