Site Preparation Project for Exploits Area, Gander District

Beaton Tulk, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, and Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and MHA - Gander, take pleasure in announcing the award of a $76,982.50 contract for site preparation in the Exploits area.

The successful bid for the contract was submitted by Quest Inc. of Birchy Bay. They will be responsible for preparing a 350 hectare site for replanting next year. Mr. Tulk sais: "The project comes just two or three years after timber in this area was commercially harvested. The department is making every effort possible to see to it that our forests are regenerated under a careful but proactive forest management plan."

Ms. Kelly stated: "The project is an excellent example of this government's commitment that our forest industries remain viable in the present and the future. The Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods is obviously trying to keep a tight turn around time between harvest and replanting, and this is good news for both commercial harvesters and the local economy."

The project is slated to start in June and will run for seven weeks, and will employ three people.

• Contact:

  Frank Skeard
  P.O. Box 2222
  Gander, NF
  A1B 2N9
  (709) 256-1457

  Anna Buffinga
  P.O. Box 8700
  St. John's, NF
  A1B 4J6
  (709) 729-3750