June 10, 1999
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

Forest resource road projects approved in St. Barbe

Forest Resources and Agrifoods Minister Kevin Alyward, along with Charles Furey, MHA for St. Barbe and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced two contracts have been awarded for resource road construction in the District of St. Barbe.

Gibbon's Construction Limited of Plum Point was awarded one contract, at the cost of $38,188, for road construction in the Squid Cove and Castors River areas. The second contract, for $73,756, was awarded to Critch's Construction Limited of Springdale to construct four kilometres of resource road near Mount St. Margaret.

"These resource roads are being constructed for the purpose of allowing access to mature timber stands for commercial harvesting," Minister Aylward stated. "These projects are labour-intensive, and involve not only clearing trees and vegetation, but also salvaging acceptable timber. These roads have the added benefit of improving access to wilderness areas for recreational purposes."

Minister Furey said: "The construction of these two new resource roads is a positive initiative for the logging industry in the area. I am pleased that local area residents will benefit from the construction of these roads through the purchasing of supplies from businesses to the hiring of local people for this short-term employment opportunity."

Both contracts are set to start July 1, 1999. The Squid Cove project will run five weeks and provide four jobs. The Mount St. Margaret project will employ five people for six weeks.

Media contact: Allan Masters, Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, (709) 637-2410.

1999 06 10         3:00 p.m.