Consultants have recommended Innova Park become a mining cluster and centre of excellence if the proposed event centre isn’t there.
Consultants for IBI Group and Turner and Townsend cm2r Inc. presented a report on the Junot Avenue and Golf Links Road corridor pilot project. The study looked at the area along Junot and Golf Links between John Street and the Harbour Expressway.
The report looked at various options that council could adopt. One of those options presented had Innova Park become the home for a centre of excellence in mining, which could have partnerships with Lakehead University and Confederation College.
But this option was given if Innova Park wasn’t the chosen site for the proposed event centre. The consultants also proposed that if the event centre did go into Innova Park city council could still make it into a mining cluster.
Another option was for large retail stores to open in the area
Amy Shepherd, one of the consultants who presented the report, said the mining cluster and centre of excellence provided the best outcome for economic development and industry diversification compared to the other options.
The centre has been brought up before as a possible development project for Innova Park so they built upon previous findings and recommendations, she said.
“We believe big box retail is something that will not create jobs and stimulate the economy,” Shepherd told council.
“There can be some opportunities for restaurants and other associated uses, which could create a mixed use for the area. What we think is interesting is that 1,000 to 4,000 jobs are anticipated to be required to support the Thunder Bay area in mining related businesses within the next 10 to 15 years.”
She said those jobs included trades, labour, science and support workers and it wouldn’t just be a single area like exploration that could utilize a cluster and centre but many professions and services.
Shepherd added they spoke to consultants that are conducting their own study on the event centre when they compiled their report.
IBI Group Associate John Lohmus, who represented alongside Shepherd, said if the event centre goes into Innova Park they would identify the land uses that would be best suited with it. But having a mining centre would still be a good option to drive other industrial uses, he said.
“Because of the presence of Lakehead University and Confederation College, they have land uses but they may not want to locate on their campus,” Lohmus said. “They are related to those academic institutions in terms of industrial type technological lab like uses and Innova Park is a logical location for that.”
Lohmus said they are only providing options for council on what they should do and added they have options for both with and without the event centre.
Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs said the multiplex consultants told them that having the event centre in Innova Park could do well with big box stores.
The report also recommended that the road along Golf Links and Junot be widened to four lanes with improvements to intersections at the Harbour Expressway, Central Avenue, Oliver Road and John Street.
Northwood Ward Coun. Mark Bentz reminded council that the report was for guiding their decision only.
Council also deferred a decision on the proposed Bell Mobility towers at Edward Street North and Highway 61 until they have more information. They also deferred an amendment for the amount not-for-profit organizations pay for application fees.
