Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 08/03) - The city's plan to redevelop the waterfront took another hit Tuesday when officials decided to "rethink" the construction of a public dock in the Woodyard after angry protests by residents.

The site of a proposed $86,000 dock in the Woodyard. The project has residents up in arms. - Andrew Raven/NNSL photo

"Given the reaction, I believe we need to rethink the location of the dock," said facilities manager Andrew Morton.

"It doesn't make sense to build something that the residents... are strongly against."

Morton and acting Community Services Director Brian Kelln met with Woodyard residents July 30 to discuss the project.

Opposition to the dock, which had an $86,000 price tag, was fierce.

"We don't want a dock down here," said one Woodyard resident who didn't want to be identified.

"All we want is to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?"

Yellowknifer spoke to several Woodyard residents after the meeting and all were against the project.

"I don't see why we need a dock," said Amanda Halldorson. "It will just end up causing problems."

The dock was part of the city's $300,000 plan to redevelop the waterfront between School Draw Avenue and Latham Island.

Morton said the city wanted to make the water more accessible for Yellowknife residents and tourists.

"We were trying to build something for all the citizens," he said.

But many residents didn't like the idea of increased access for the public.

"We won't be able to sit on our porches and relax," said Annick Ladouceur.

"It will be an invasion of our privacy."

Other residents said a public dock would create a traffic nightmare.

"It's already hard to drive in here," said Halldorson. "I don't know where the public would park."

Several residents also responded angrily to Morton's suggestion that houseboaters would have access to lockers and a canoe launch at the dock. "I can't understand why they would build something for the houseboaters," said one resident.

"The (city) spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to sue them, and now they want to build them a dock? It doesn't make sense to me."

City councillor Alan Woytuik was quick to point out that the dock was not being built exclusively for the houseboaters.

"It's primary purpose is for the public and tourists," he said.

"I would not have approved of the project ... if it had been solely for the houseboaters."

The Woodyard dock was the second waterfront project to be shelved in the last two months.

In June, city council voted to scrap a plan to build a 150 metre boardwalk along the western shore of Latham Island.