$100 Million Windfall Expected from Tidal Bore

MONCTON - April 21, 2004 - The Petitcodiac Riverkeeper unveiled a new poster series this morning entitled “Petitcodiac Renaissance”. The series is designed to increase public awareness on the proposal to replace the Petitcodiac causeway with a partial bridge and also to explore various opportunities associated with this spectacular restoration project.

The first poster of the four part series, which is being unveiled over a four-week period, is entitled “The Great Bores”. It introduces the idea that one of our region’s claims to fame, the Petitcodiac River Tidal Bore, will once again be restored once the causeway is removed and could be promoted as a world-class eco-tourism destination. Based on the success of other tidal bore developments around the world in the past 25 years, Riverkeeper predicts that a $100 million windfall could benefit our community over a ten year period should the river be restored.

The rare natural phenomenon of the tidal bore is found only in a dozen or so regions around the world, in approximately 65 rivers. It occurs in areas where tidal amplitudes are strong (more than 6 m), such as in the Bay of Fundy where 3 of the world’s 10 most famous tidal bores can be found (Shubenacadie, Salmon and Petitcodiac). There are two tidal bore rivers in France, and one each in Brazil, China, Alaska, England and India. “Talk about having an attraction that is unique!” says Riverkeeper Daniel LeBlanc.

With investments of approximately $5 - 10 million in riverside infrastructure, landings and promotion, the Riverkeeper estimates that the region could reap as much as $100 million over a 10-year period through an aggressive program to promote and develop our tidal bore attraction.

Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie (South Maitland) and Salmon (Truro) rivers, attracts tens of thousands of tourists and generates millions of dollars in benefits every year. In one weekend every fall, at a popular festival on the Qiantang River in China, over 250,000 visitors come to experience the arrival of the world’s largest bore, locally named the Black Dragon. In England and France, surfing buffs have created a sensation by riding the wave of the Severn and Dordogne bores over distances of several kilometres, attracting thousands of onlookers.

With scientists and the government-sponsored $4 million EIA now stating that only free-flow will work to restore fish passage in the endangered Petitcodiac River, the Riverkeeper believes that it is time for the community and the elected officials to start considering the real benefits that will come to this region following the restoration of the river. “We’ve got a natural attraction that is unique in the world, and we have a tourism industry in New Brunswick that stands to gain tremendously from this river”, said LeBlanc. “After nearly 40 years of neglect, its time to start taking care of our business again when it comes to the river”.

Click here to see the other of the Renaissance Petitcodiac Series

INFORMATION :
Daniel LeBlanc
Tel. (506) 388-5337
www.petitcodiac.org