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Making the Most of Mount Hays, International investors
have some big plans in mind for Prince Rupert's iconic landmark |
Ambitious, maybe even audacious are words that come to mind with a glimpse at what may be the next big mega project for the Prince Rupert area. One which will provide both an appealing visual presentation of a natural backdrop for residents and visitors alike, as well as to offer some infrastructure for expanded industrial growth.
Plans will soon be revealed towards the development of a giant dam project along the mid range of Mount Hays. The extensive planning set to provide for a mixture of elements that will appeal to the tourism sector, as well as the large industrial footprint planned through port development, with investors also focused on the chance to develop another green energy resource for the Province.
Resource development is just one focus, through the bounty of Prince Rupert's legendary rainfall, which will be collected by way of a dam complex built deep inside the giant mountain that watches over the BC coast. The reservoir to be constructed inside the mountain designed to funnel water to a hydro generation station at the foot of the mountain, the water then is destined to return to the ocean by way of a redeveloped Hays Creek spillway to the harbour.
Italian infrastructure company Dannati Sciocchi are the principle developers and investors in the project, which will include a lighted waterfall at the mid range level which will serve as a beacon to Prince Rupert, easily seen from many vantage points around the city and making for a spectacular welcome to the community for those arriving by ship or plane in the evening hours.
Lighting for the project as befits a community known as the Rainbow City will be through the use of tens of thousands of High Exposure LED lights in all colours of the rainbow, placed in fixture trays behind the water as it spills to the generating station below. The grid line arrangement offering an ever moving pattern of light that will cross the mountain face in bursts of thirty seconds of colour.
Financing of the project will be wholly private based, with the primary Italian developer currently seeking out investors through its discussions with other European firms. One potential partner is
German gondola maker Spaßvogel Torheit , which looks to take part in the tourism aspect of the development, which will bring proven transportation technology from Europe to the North Coast to offer a breath taking view of our natural environment.
Off of McBride Street, in behind the Lester Centre of the Arts would be the location for the Tramway project, a vertical lift that will pass over the front of the waterfall display and rise to a second terminal not far from where the Old Mount Hays Ski lift was located. That aspect of the project taps both tourism and local recreation concepts. With an extensive redevelopment of the area up the atop the mountainside which will provide for walkways, park space and a look out that will offer vistas of both the city, the harbour and beyond, as well as a spectacular view of the roaring water passing below through the channels to the generating station located at the base of the mountain on Wantage Road.
Oldfield Creek will play a significant part of the project as well, with the water from the spillway released at a controlled speed and directed towards a redeveloped Hays Creek through to the Canadian Fish Co. plant where the Mountain water will enter the harbour. The redesign of the creek will require some extensive dredging and reinforcement; with bridges spaced along a nature trail that will also provide for both walking and cycling pathways on either side.
Lastly and perhaps the deal breaker for the plans, will be the main incentive for the Italian investors, that of using the power generated towards providing electricity for the proposed tramway, as well to negotiate contracts with local industry, to power up the range of port infrastructure that is planned for the next ten to fifteen years. Company officials also plan to seek out an arrangement with BC Hydro to take any additional power for the provincial grid.
Should all of their plans related to the financials, engineering and governmental requirements come together,
Dannati Sciocchi has suggested that
one year from this very date will see a community presentation take place, an event which will further outline how the vision of the project will come together and what it will cost. A session which company officials observe will offer a chance for residents of Prince Rupert to show their support for the ambitious plans; or to tell the Italian investors that they are on a
Sentiero degli sciocchi that has no chance of ever being realized.
