Yellowknife (May 06/05) - Plans to turn a gutted federal fisheries site into a waterfront park is nothing but a "self-serving" attempt by nearby homeowners to raise their real estate values, a yacht club executive says.

Gary McLellan, vice-commodore of the Great Slave Yacht Club, said Old Town residents supporting a plan to build a waterfront park on McDonald Drive are only trying to drive up the value of their homes.

A Department of Fisheries warehouse on the Yellowknife Bay waterfront of McDonald Drive burnt to the ground in January, prompting some residents to inquire about using the site for a public park. A dock on the site is shared by the RCMP and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Fisheries plans to rebuild and work crews were digging trenches this week.

Gary McLellan, vice-commodore of the Great Slave Yacht Club, said certain members of the Yellowknife Waterfront Memorial Park Association are tossing public safety aside in their attempt to persuade political powers to support a park on McDonald Drive.

"I really have a problem with the fact that the people that are promoting this park are the very people who just bought property right across the street," said McLellan.

"Frankly, I find this whole thing very irritating because I do find it self-serving."

Architect Wayne Guy - the most vocal member of the association - has his office across the street.

McLellan said the association's suggestion that Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard Auxiliary can double up on either the Department of Defence site two lots down, or the Environment and Natural Resources area further south are absurd.

"These guys are giving absolutely no thought to the safety issues, the enforcement issues out there," he said.

"It's taken a while for Yellowknife to have all the services available that are needed for boaters, and I don't think these guys give a damn about it."

McLellan said with the growing number of people taking to the water in recent years, having the Coast Guard there is crucial for boating safety. He said members of the yacht club are worried that if the Coast Guard are pushed out of the site, they may leave town all together.

McLellan said the 100-member yacht club voted overwhelmingly April 22 to oppose the association's plans for a park. He said his club is looking at a proposal to turn a small parcel of land next door into a public canoe and kayak launch and park.

The yacht club has been leasing its dock space for the last 15 years. The site was previously unoccupied, said McLellan.

David Gilbert, an executive committee member of the Yellowknife Coast Guard Auxiliary, said proposals to move its docking space to the Defence site or Natural Resources are not desirable because it would take them away from the shelter of Joliffe Island.

"There are two advantages to that spot," said Gilbert.

"One, it's protected from the weather. If you move to either side you're much more exposed.

"The other drawback to moving is that either way would force us to go around Joliffe Island, which could add considerable time (to rescues)."

Wayne Guy said he isn't being self-serving. He said his group is merely trying to free up waterfront land for the public and tourists alike in an area that is ideal, but clogged with government infrastructure.

He said a lot of the space at the Defence dock and Natural Resources is being used for staff to store their own private boats.

Guy said while they would prefer the Coast Guard move a couple dock spaces down, they wouldn't object to trying to accommodate them and a public park on the same site.

"It's not just a McDonald Drive issue, it's an Old Town waterfront-lake access issue," said Guy.

"When I see the lost Japanese walking down the street, I really feel for them. It would be nice to come here and enjoy the water."