Minister provides progress report on designating the Main River as a Canadian Heritage River

Sandra Kelly, acting Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, stated today that government has completed a draft management plan for the Main River which will form the basis for obtaining Canadian Heritage River (CHR) status. The package includes a detailed approach to managing the protected area corridor and a draft Stewardship Agreement between key stakeholder groups. As a step toward achieving Canadian Heritage River designation, the provincial government proposes to establish a Provincial Waterway Park in the corridor of the Main River, and also proposes to designate the remainder of the viewshed as a Special Management Area, thereby providing additional protection to the Provincial Waterway Park.

"Attaining Canadian Heritage River Status for the Main River will be a significant step toward protecting and preserving a portion of the Main River watershed, especially its natural heritage features," said Minister Kelly. "By accomplishing Heritage River status, we will also contribute to the protection of the pine marten and old growth forest, as well as provide a unique and outstanding tourism attraction which will bring economic benefits to the surrounding area."

The minister stated that government is now ready to receive public input on the draft management plan. Today, there is a meeting of the Main River Working Group in Pollard�s Point to review the plan in detail. In addition to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, the working group contains representatives of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited, the Main River Coalition, the communities of White Bay South and Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador.

The minister thanked all members of the working group for their participation over the last six months. She also noted the significant contribution being made by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in terms of additional limits on their harvesting activities in the viewshed of the Main River, without which the heritage features of the Main River would not be protected.

Further public consultation will be held on December 5 and 6, 2000 when there will be public open houses in Pollard�s Point and Corner Brook. "I would like to encourage as many people as possible to attend the open houses and learn more about this valuable ecological resource," added Minister Kelly. "Government officials will be present to provide information to the public on the management plan for the Main River and to receive feedback."

The open houses will be held on December 5, 2000 at Main River Academy in Pollard�s Point from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on December 6, 2000 at Glynmill Inn in Corner Brook from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. School groups are welcome to attend.

"We have worked very hard with many stakeholders involved in Main River issues to create this draft management plan to send to the CHR Board of Directors, but before it is sent we need to solicit public input," added Minister Kelly. "We are confident that the management plan will meet the natural and recreational goals of the CHR program in balance with economic development in the broader watershed."

The package addresses the most critical Main River issues, including the protection of the viewscape, protection of the endangered pine marten population in the watershed area and road decommissioning in the viewshed.

In addition to Heritage River issues, government is also addressing several parallel issues: 1) government has created a committee consisting of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper and Gros Morne National Park to address the ecological integrity of Gros Morne; 2) government is committed to identifying an ecological reserve north of the Main River to include a large and representative portion of old growth forest; 3) new discussions have been initiated with area outfitters and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper to address concerns related to the impact of harvesting plans on outfitting.

Copies of the Draft Management Plan are available for review and government will accept comments up to December 18, 2000 on the document.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-0928 .

2000 12 04 3:25 p.m.