Port to be upgraded at Turf Point in Bay St. George

The Newfoundland and federal governments have announced funding to upgrade the port infrastructure at Turf Point in Bay St. George. Western Logging Limited will receive $2,081,250 under the Canada- Newfoundland Offshore Development Fund Agreement to complete the necessary improvements to the facility.

The announcement was made by Roger Simmons, P.C., MP - Burin-St. George's, on behalf of Anne McLellan, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, and by Gerald Smith, MHA - Port au Port East, representing Rex Gibbons, Minister of Mines and Energy. The announcement was made today at a ceremony in St. George's.

"The province is anxious to encourage and support offshore development and, accordingly, has identified west coast development as a strategic priority for the limited funds remaining under the Offshore Development Fund Agreement," Mr. Smith said. "The improvements to the facility will assist in the establishment of core infrastructure in the area, and at the same time send an early signal to industry of the government's confidence in the region's potential to meet the needs of the offshore oil and gas sector."

"The Turf Point proposal presents an excellent opportunity to develop a deep-water port for the west coast," noted Mr. Simmons. "The improvements recommended in the current proposal will enable the facility to accommodate the additional traffic generated by offshore activity and related business. This will create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth, for both the local community and the province."

Turf Point is a deep-water port which is accessible through approaches from the Strait of Belle Isle. It is the only port on the province's west coast that has the necessary water depths to accommodate large offshore drilling and supply vessels. The approved funding will allow for modernization of the loading and docking terminal at Turf Point to maximize the long-term potential of the facility.

Western Logging Limited is a Newfoundland-owned company with key areas of interest in heavy equipment work, construction, salvage, demolition and related industries.

Funding for the federal portion of this project was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

1997 02 27

6:00 p.m.

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