SUNNYSIDE, N.L. — The provincial government has approved the preparation of a feasibility report to explore the proposed expansion of Sunnyside’s town boundaries.
The proposed expansion will bring the Bull Arm site within the town’s boundaries.
Sunnyside town manager Phil Smith explained that the site, when in operation, brings many transient workers into the community, and that this creates general wear and tear on the town’s roads, buildings and recreation centres.
The hope is that if the fabrication site is within town boundaries, that this will be compensated for by taxation of the project
During the construction of the Hebron project, ExxonMobil Canada paid the town $225,000 annually in lieu of taxes.
The proposed expansion would also bring the Centre Hill Wilderness trail, Samson’s Head and Stock Cove archaeological sites, and the catchment areas for the towns water supply, within the town’s boundaries.
This is the third time over the years that the town has proposed such an expansion, but the previous two times the proposal has been rejected.
The group that will conduct the study has not yet been selected.
The Packet will have more as it becomes available.