City and Port Authority take next step forward

The City of Oshawa and Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) welcome City Council’s direction to move forward on a number of agreements resulting from a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties earlier this year. This signifies a renewed commitment by the City and HOPA to strengthen their working relationship in realizing a shared vision of a prosperous working waterfront that complements the City’s active and vibrant public spaces. The forthcoming agreements will result in the following key initiatives:

• Land Exchange – an exchange of certain lands between the City and HOPA to accommodate a new Oshawa Waterfront Trail link and a new driveway entrance to HOPA’s east wharf lands in support of HOPA’s $30 million Port of Oshawa Export Expansion Plan.
• Communication and Cooperation Strategy – the advancement of a joint communication and cooperation strategy that will continue to enhance the working relationship between the City, HOPA and public stakeholders.
• Pier – the City will secure long-term public access to the Pier and beach for passive recreational purposes.
• Simcoe Street South – improvements to the streetscape along Simcoe Street South that will reduce heavy truck traffic near the Lakeview Park beach area, increase Port security and provide enhanced screening of the industrial port operations from the City’s vibrant waterfront parks and open spaces.

City Improvements to Harbour lands

The City of Oshawa continues to develop and improve the City’s harbour lands for public use in support of an active, vibrant waterfront.

The Larry Ladd Harbour Trail on the City’s lands east of Simcoe Street South and south of Harbour Road comprises a pedestrian bridge and walkway and is an important link to the Waterfront Trail, Second Marsh, Oshawa Museum and Lakeview Park. Additionally, the City’s development of the Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park located at the southeast corner of Simcoe Street South and Harbour Road, named in recognition of political icon Ed Broadbent, is well underway. The completed project will feature an expansive Garden of Human Rights, a network of concrete and asphalt pathways, as well as a stage with amphitheatre seating.

For more information, visit Oshawa.ca/harbour.

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Oshawa Port

The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) operates the Port of Oshawa.

The Port of Oshawa is Durham Region’s gateway to the world, handling more than 500 vessels carrying over 3 million metric tons of cargo over the past decade. On average, the port handles $23 million worth of cargo annually, from salt and steel products to asphalt and grain. The movement of cargo through the Port of Oshawa supports hundreds of jobs and generates $6 million in federal and provincial taxes annually.

Oshawa is one of the few cities along the north shore of Lake Ontario that can boast an airport, rail lines, a deep-sea port and 400-series highways all within close proximity. The Port of Oshawa offers the benefit of full seaway draft, a workforce skilled in handling all types of cargo and access to world markets through the St. Lawrence Seaway.

For more information, visit hopaports.ca.

Quotes:

“On behalf of City Council and the Oshawa community, we are excited to enter this next chapter with HOPA. The land exchange, streetscape improvements along Simcoe Street South and long-term public access to the Pier and beach will help balance recreational and commercial uses along Oshawa’s lakeshore and is the next big step in developing our shared vision of an active and vibrant waterfront for our community,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter.

"We’re proud to work in collaboration with the City of Oshawa. HOPA’s $30 million investment in the port is a testament to our commitment to the City and the region. This agreement builds on our mission to create prosperity by facilitating commerce while providing sustainable solutions that benefit our communities,” said Ian Hamilton, HOPA President and Chief Executive Officer.