7 days ago
Aerodrome or airport? the Township of Ignace will consider both
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The Township of Ignace is reviewing options for the future of its long-dormant aerodrome as the community prepares for its potential role in Canada's nuclear waste storage strategy.
Earlier this month, consultants from the Loomex Group presented council with three scenarios for the site: a $8.4-million upgrade to restore basic aerodrome operations, a full $41.8-million build out to meet Transport Canada airport certification or repurposing the land for light industrial or recreational use.
An aerodrome refers to any location from which flight operations take place, such as recreational heliports and small airplanes. An airport is a more certified facility with commercial passenger and cargo services that meets Transport Canada standards.
The aerodrome, located on the west side of town, has been unused since the late 1970s. But, renewed interest follows the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) choice to select Ignace as the potential host community for the country's first deep geological repository. The multibillion-dollar project could begin construction in the early 2030s.
Jake Pastore, a spokesperson for the township, said a potential airport would help people travel back and forth from the repository.
"We wanted to see what opportunities would be available to utilize that land," said Pastore, explaining the facility could be used as a potential medical base or a feeder airport.
The $8.4-million option would restore the facility to a non-certified airstrip with a resurfaced runway and capacity for limited commercial and residential air traffic. The $42-million alternative would accommodate business jets and certified commercial operations. It would also come with annual operating costs estimated between $550,000 and $600,000.
No decision has been made, but township officials say the matter will likely return to council in the fall.
Not everyone agrees that upgrading the aerodrome is a wise use of public money.
Brennain Lloyd, with the environmental group Northwatch, said the proposal raises concerns about how municipal and NWMO-related funds are being used.
"We do question where the money's going in terms of using it to upgrade their airport. They do have a small airport there now. I would expect that it's probably not a good use of funds because I think that the City of Dryden is much more likely to be the business centre and the main hub, if the NWMO is ever able to go ahead with their proposed deep geological repository," said Lloyd.
Lloyd said the airport is not a central concern compared to what she describes as a larger issue: a lack of transparency and accountability in the township's dealings related to the nuclear project.
"It's more nuclear money after nuclear money," she said. "Whether they upgrade the airport or not, it is not a central concern for us."
The Loomex Group's study included an online survey for residents that could be found on the municipality's website. While official results have not been made public, Pastore said preliminary feedback from residents suggested greater support for the lower-cost option. He added that the $8-million investment may be the most practical route unless substantial backing comes from federal or private-sector sources.
"Ignace is looking at who the partners would be in an investment for $42 million. It would have to be of significant interest to third parties, both airlines, industrial, and commercial, including the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. It's still undetermined at this point," he said.
