In 2021, Champlain Township will try something new when it comes to managing the L’Orignal Marina. At its most recent regular council meeting, councillors approved a leasing agreement with Riverest Inc., which will take over management of the marina for a minimum of five years, with an automatic secondary five-year renewal at the sole discretion of Champlain Township and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

As part of its bid to manage the marina, Riverest Inc. submitted a detailed proposal and business plan for the marina. According to a report from Champlain staff members Lisa Burroughs, Director of Parks and Recreation and Jennifer Laforest, Senior Planner, the proposal will leverage historical and maritime assets owned by the company along the waterfront to create an integrated waterfront “destination.”

The proposal would connect the marina and the historic Riverest property at 52 Wharf Street, also acquired by Riverest Inc. Plans also include doubling the docking capacity of existing facility.

Proposed fees were included in the report to council, which includes special rates for residents of Champlain Township.

Proposed fees for seasonal slip rentals include a change from $49.90 per foot to $58 per foot, with an increase in the minimum length of boat charge from 20 feet to 25 feet.

Daily slip rental will change from $2.20 per foot to $15 per hour, with a minimum of three hours of rental time.

Overnight slip rental will be change from $2.20 in 2020 to $1.75 per foot in 2021.

While boat launch fees at the marina were previously free for residents, the new fees will be $5. Boat launch fees for non-residents will be reduced to $10 from $12 in 2020.

While a seasonal boat launch was free for residents, it will cost $150 in 2021. A seasonal boat launch for non-residents cost $108.70 in 2020 and will cost $225 in 2021.

The Director of Parks and Recreation reserves the right to approve any changes to the user fees for the marina.

The annual rental fee was established at $18,000 plus HST per year, with Riverest paying its own utilities. The rental amount is based on  asset-carrying costs which are forecast for 2021, including $3,460 for building maintenance, $6,500 in municipal salaries and benefits and $9,040 in insurance, for a total of $18,000.

Note that the wharf is owned by the federal Department of Fishers and Oceans, which owns legal title to the pier and the lands.

The asset value of the municipally-owned facilities at the marina, including the comfort station and floating docks is estimated at $500,000.

The 2020 revenues for the L’Orignal Marina were $137,000, according to the report provided to council.

The 2021 draft budget documents show that $145,750 was the total estimated revenues for the L’Orignal Marina in 2020. Expenses were estimated at $142,587.

L’Orignal councillor André Roy said he had seen the plans for the project and said that it was “impressive.”