October 19, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)
Minister announces funding for
heritage projects
Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, today announced $415,000 in funding for heritage
projects.
"We are very fortunate to live
in a place with such a rich history," says Furey. "To ensure the
integrity of our historical sites and to preserve the areas of Newfoundland and
Labrador that make it special, government has identified funding to enhance
existing interpretation, construct new interpretation, and to acquire property
to preserve the integrity of our history which is a vital part of our culture.
The funding announced today will build on existing investments made by
government which help us to learn about and enjoy our culture and inform the
thousands of travelers that visit us annually."
The capital funding includes:
Bonavista Lighthouse $130,000
Complete refurbishment of
the Bonavista Lighthouse will cost $600,000 and will be completed over a
three-year period. The first part of the project relates to correcting
safety and preservation concerns and will cost $130,000. Tenders to start
work are expected to be issued during the week of October 18.
Point Amour $25,000
Safety improvements including
the construction of a fence around derelict foundations, reconstruction of a
viewing deck (blew away during a winter storm in 1997), and the re-routing
of the road away from the burial mound. The work is expected to be completed
at the lighthouse site by December 31st.
Relocating of Trinity power lines
$30,000
Restructuring of power lines in
order to accommodate the new theatre building in Trinity. A new transformer
will be added, a power pole moved, and the new line dug underground so as
not to detract from the look of a 19th century historic site.
Electronic Interpretation $60,000
Installation of equipment to
allow for an audio component for exhibits at the museum. The first exhibit
that will require such technology will be the Full Circle Exhibit in June
2000.
Mockbeggar Interpretative Plan
$50,000
To undertake a thorough
interpretive plan of this historic site which is located in Bonavista and
was donated to government by the family of Senator Gordon Bradley in 1980.
Quidi Vidi Battery $40,000
To restore the parapets which
were damaged by erosion and subsequently excavated by archaeologists in
1996.
Newman Vaults $50,000
The Newman wine vaults, located
on Water Street West in St. John's, are currently closed to the public. The
$50,000 will cover the costs to install safety improvements such as panic
hardware, emergency lighting, a water supply (for a future sprinkler system)
and a sewer system enabling the Newfoundland Historic Trust to open the site
to the public.
Loggers Exhibit $10,000
The Loggers' Exhibit, located in
Grand Fall-Windsor, interprets the logging industry of the 1920s and 1930s.
It was retained by the province when the former Provincial Park was devolved
to the private sector in 1996. The funding will be used to undertake a land
survey and to install an electrical service to the site.
Highway Signs $20,000
Directional highway signs are an
essential component of the marketing plan for historic sites, which are
mainly located off the main highways, in some cases requiring the visitor to
branch off the main road at several locations. Government has made much
progress in the past three years to erect highway signs, and the signs
proposed for 1999-00 should complete the need.
Government also continues to support
the preservation of sites in which there is ongoing archaeological research.
"I am pleased to announce that government will be acquiring property in
Ferryland in order to maintain the integrity of the archaeological site. Once
the land acquisition is complete, government will move forward with the
implementation of the masterplan for the area," says Furey.
Media Contact: Tara Laing,
Communications, (709) 729-0928
1999 10 19 5:00 p.m.
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